New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has sharply criticised Meta, parent company of social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, for its ineffective complaint redressal system, saying its functioning was “far worse than a government department."

The court's rebuke came during a hearing involving a plea by TV Today Network, which alleged improper blocking of its Instagram page, Harper’s Bazaar India, over copyright issues.

Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora directed Meta to overhaul its grievance mechanism, warning of potential castigation if improvements are not made. The court highlighted the circular responses and automatic replies the media house received, displaying the need for Meta to address complaints efficiently and transparently.

During the proceedings, the court observed that Meta's current system led the complainant in circles without resolving the issue, prompting the bench to demand a more responsible approach from the company. "You may have billions of users, but your house is not in order," the bench expressed in frustration.

The plea, which also challenges the constitutionality of Rule 3(1)(c) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, has been listed for further hearing on May 1. This case adds to the growing list of legal challenges facing Meta, including those related to its handling of fake news and privacy concerns. /BI/