Facebook refused to send anyone to appear before the Delhi Assembly's Peace and Harmony Committee, which had scheduled a hearing on Tuesday afternoon. The Committee had earlier issued summons to Facebook India chief Ajit Mohan, who was called to depose on the company's alleged role in inciting hatred and aiding violence during the Northeast Delhi riots earlier this year. In its last hearing on September 1, the Committee had found Facebook prima facie guilty of aggravating the riots, and suggested that a supplemental chargesheet be filed against the company in ongoing cases related to the riots. The Committee has been hearing on the allegations of political bias against Facebook to look at how non-enforcement of community standards could have played a role in the Delhi violence. Constituted in March 2020 after the riots, the Committee took up the matter after the Wall Street Journal reported last month that Facebook had refused to take down hate speech posted by leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Speaking on occasion, Committee chairman and Aam Aadmi Party MLA Raghav Chadha noted that Mohan had been issued a notice of summons on September 10. "However, with great sadness I inform you that Facebook has chosen to respond to the notice by sending a letter, which reached us on September 14 [Monday]," he said. The letter was sent by Vikram Langa, a director at Facebook India. The letter, read out aloud by Chadha, noted that issues regarding the dissemination of hate speech were currently being considered…
