Facebook Inc announced on Tuesday that the company's top lobbyist in India Ankhi Das has quit, in the midst of a controversy over how Facebook regulates and manages political content in the country.

Das was Facebook's public policy head for India, South and Central Asia. According to the company statement, Das stepped down to pursue public service.

Controversy erupted in August after The Wall Street Journal reported that the company had failed to apply hate-speech restrictions to some groups and individuals owing to the fear of damage to the company's business potential in the country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/business-economy/facebook-google-and-microsoft-avoiding-3bn-in-tax-in-poorer-nations-338007" hreflang="en">Facebook, Google and Microsoft avoiding $3bn in tax in poorer nations</a>

The company had faced questions from employees internally a few weeks ago, in terms of how it regulates political content in its biggest market - India.

Reuters reported that Facebook India Head Ajit Mohan had defended the company's policies and Das' role in an internal community post.

The "article does not reflect the person I know or the extraordinarily complex issues we face every day that benefits from Ankhi and the Public Policy team's expertise," Mohan had written, as reported by Reuters.

Das had been central to Facebook's influence in the country since she joined the company in 2011, and was considered one of India's most influential corporate lobbying executives.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/facebook-india-chief-ajit-mohan-appears-before-parliamentary-panel-324749" hreflang="en">Facebook India chief Ajit Mohan appears before Parliamentary panel</a>

"Ankhi was one of our earliest employees in India and played an instrumental role in the growth of the company and its services," Facebook said in a statement which announced Das's departure.

According to the Wall Street Journal report, Facebook had failed to flag content coming from the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party and its affiliates that were "flagged internally''.

Das was reported by the WSJ as the one who spearheaded this bias in the company.

Facebook Inc announced on Tuesday that the company's top lobbyist in India Ankhi Das has quit, in the midst of a controversy over how Facebook regulates and manages political content in the country.

Facebook Inc announced on Tuesday that the company's top lobbyist in India Ankhi Das has quit, in the midst of a controversy over how Facebook regulates and manages political content in the country. Das was Facebook's public policy head for India, South and Central Asia. According to the company statement, Das stepped down to pursue public service. Controversy erupted in August after The Wall Street Journal reported that the company had failed to apply hate-speech restrictions to some groups and individuals owing to the fear of damage to the company's business potential in the country. Also read: Facebook, Google and Microsoft avoiding $3bn in tax in poorer nations The company had faced questions from employees internally a few weeks ago, in terms of how it regulates political content in its biggest market - India. Reuters reported that Facebook India Head Ajit Mohan had defended the company's policies and Das' role in an internal community post. The "article does not reflect the person I know or the extraordinarily complex issues we face every day that benefits from Ankhi and the Public Policy team's expertise," Mohan had written, as reported by Reuters. Das had been central to Facebook's influence in the country since she joined the company in 2011, and was considered one of India's most influential corporate lobbying executives. Also read: Facebook India chief Ajit Mohan appears before Parliamentary panel "Ankhi was one of our earliest employees in India and played an instrumental role in the growth of the company and its services," Facebook said in a statement which announced Das's departure. According to the Wall Street Journal report, Facebook had failed to flag content coming from the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party and its affiliates that were "flagged internally''. Das was reported by the WSJ as the one who spearheaded this bias in the company.

Facebook India's policy head Ankhi Das quits amid political controversy

Netflix Inc and home-grown rival Hotstar plan to adopt self-regulation guidelines for content streamed on their platforms in India in an effort to prevent potential government censorship, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

India has film and TV certification bodies that moderate public content but the country's laws currently do not mandate any censorship of content on online streaming platforms.

But global video streaming market leader, Netflix, was drawn into a legal battle last year after a complaint that its first Indian original series "Sacred Games" insulted former prime minister and Congress leader Rajiv Gandhi.

The battle raised concerns in the industry that the government could, at some point, look at regulating content on online streaming platforms.

A draft of an unofficial code that will be adopted by Netflix, Hotstar and other local players, seen by Reuters, said that the platforms would prohibit content that shows a child "engaged in real or simulated sexual activities", is disrespectful of India's national flag or encourages "terrorism".

Amazon Inc's Prime Video will not sign the code, though it helped draft it, as the company does not want to act in the absence of government-mandated regulation, one of the sources said.

Subho Ray, President of the Internet and Mobile Association of India, which drafted the code with industry consultation, said it would be made public on Thursday, and the final version would include changes when compared to the draft.

Amazon Prime Video said in a statement it is assessing the situation but believes "the current laws are adequate". Netflix and Star India, the parent of Hotstar, did not respond to requests for comment.

The draft code also said that companies which sign it will bar content "which deliberately and maliciously intends to outrage religious sentiments of any class, section or community."

The companies will also internally appoint a person, team or department to receive and address any "consumer-related concerns and complaints", the draft document added.

"It is a welcome move to form guidelines but in no manner should they be restrictive to expression or creative freedom," said Vikram Malhotra of production house Abundantia Entertainment, which has worked on an Amazon Prime show.

The companies continue to face legal challenges. A local non-profit group, Justice For Rights Foundation, late last year filed a case against Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Hotstar for showing sexually explicit content and demanding a regulator for online content, its founder Satyam Singh told Reuters.

Netflix Inc and home-grown rival Hotstar plan to adopt self-regulation guidelines for content streamed on their platforms in India in an effort to prevent potential government censorship, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Netflix Inc and home-grown rival Hotstar plan to adopt self-regulation guidelines for content streamed on their platforms in India in an effort to prevent potential government censorship, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. India has film and TV certification bodies that moderate public content but the country's laws currently do not mandate any censorship of content on online streaming platforms. But global video streaming market leader, Netflix, was drawn into a legal battle last year after a complaint that its first Indian original series "Sacred Games" insulted former prime minister and Congress leader Rajiv Gandhi. The battle raised concerns in the industry that the government could, at some point, look at regulating content on online streaming platforms. A draft of an unofficial code that will be adopted by Netflix, Hotstar and other local players, seen by Reuters, said that the platforms would prohibit content that shows a child "engaged in real or simulated sexual activities", is disrespectful of India's national flag or encourages "terrorism". Amazon Inc's Prime Video will not sign the code, though it helped draft it, as the company does not want to act in the absence of government-mandated regulation, one of the sources said. Subho Ray, President of the Internet and Mobile Association of India, which drafted the code with industry consultation, said it would be made public on Thursday, and the final version would include changes when compared to the draft. Amazon Prime Video said in a statement it is assessing the situation but believes "the current laws are adequate". Netflix and Star India, the parent of Hotstar, did not respond to requests for comment. The draft code also said that companies which sign it will bar content "which deliberately and maliciously intends to outrage religious sentiments of any class, section or community." The companies will also internally appoint a person, team or department to receive and address any "consumer-related concerns and complaints", the draft document added. "It is a welcome move to form guidelines but in no manner should they be restrictive to expression or creative freedom," said Vikram Malhotra of production house Abundantia Entertainment, which has worked on an Amazon Prime show. The companies continue to face legal challenges. A local non-profit group, Justice For Rights Foundation, late last year filed a case against Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Hotstar for showing sexually explicit content and demanding a regulator for online content, its founder Satyam Singh told Reuters.

Netflix, Hotstar to censor content in India: Report

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Facebook India's policy head Ankhi Das quits amid political controversy

Netflix, Hotstar to censor content in India: Report