Telangana BJP MLA Banned By Facebook For Violating Hate Speech Policy

Hyderabad: Facebook on Thursday banned BJP MLA from Hyderabad, T. Raja Singh, who is at the centre of a controversy that erupted after a report in 'Wall Street Journal' that Facebook's content policies favoured the BJP.

The social media giant banned the legislator from its platform and Instagram for violating its policy that prohibits content promoting violence and hate.

"We have banned Raja Singh from Facebook for violating our policy prohibiting those that promote or engage in violence and hate from having a presence on our platform," a Facebook spokesperson said.

The process for evaluating potential violators is extensive and it is what led us to Facebook's decision to remove his account, it added.

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The action came amid mounting pressure on Facebook over its handling of hate content being circulated by members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

After Facebook banned him over content promoting hate, Singh said banning him made no sense as he had not been using Facebook since April last year.

Raja Singh said his official Facebook page was removed and he had tweeted on April 1, 2019 wanting to know the reason from Facebook.

Interestingly, the controversial legislator also tagged a letter dated October 8, 2018 and addressed to additional deputy commissioner of police, Hyderabad, complaining that his official Facebook page (RajaSinghOfficial) was hacked.

The letter also mentions that he received an email from Facebook stating that he was removed as admin from the Facebook page.

Earlier, talking to reporters, he said he welcomed the Facebook ban on many accounts being run on the social media site in his name illegally.

Reacting to reports of Facebook banning him, the controversial legislator said he was thankful to the social media giant for removing all accounts running illegally.

Also Read: Facebook India Top Executive Receives Violent Threats, Files Police Complaint

He also urged Facebook to allow him to re-open his official account, which he alleged, was hacked in 2018.

"I have learnt that Facebook has removed all accounts in my name. My followers and workers had these accounts. Facebook has taken a good step because all these accounts and pages were being operated illegally without my knowledge," Raja Singh told reporters.

"At the same time I request Facebook to permit me to re-open my official account. It was hacked in 2018. I am ready to submit the proof in this regard," he said.

Singh said he would write to Facebook to request it to permit him to re-open his official account.

(IANS)