Karnataka
Bengaluru, July 17, 2025 – Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has publicly criticised Meta—the company behind Facebook and Instagram—for the “faulty auto‑translation” of content originally posted in Kannada. In a strongly worded message on X (formerly Twitter), he warned that such inaccuracies are “distorting facts and misleading users”, particularly when dealing with official government communications .
The CM’s Concerns: Mistranslations Threaten Public Trust
In his X post, Siddaramaiah underlined the severity of the issue:
“Faulty auto‑translation of Kannada content on @Meta platforms is distorting facts & misleading users. This is especially dangerous when it comes to official communications.”
He warned that users might mistakenly treat these translations as accurate original text, leading to serious misinterpretations of public messages. “Social media platforms must act responsibly,” he added, “Such negligence by tech giants can harm public understanding & trust.”
Formal Complaint via Media Advisor
To escalate the issue, the CM’s Media Advisor, K. V. Prabhakar, has formally written to Meta India. The letter emphasises:
- Frequent inaccuracies in automated translations of Kannada-to-English content.
- Potential for significant misinterpretation, especially in case of official statements from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
- Risk of misleading citizens, as many are unlikely to realise they are reading machine-generated content.
Demands: Suspend Feature & Collaborate with Experts
The letter outlines two key remedial actions:
- Suspend the auto‑translation feature for Kannada content until its accuracy and reliability improve substantially.
- Engage Kannada language experts and linguists to guide improvements, ensuring translations are contextually sound and faithful to the original text.
Siddaramaiah urged Meta to treat the matter with “due seriousness” and to share a clear action plan outlining steps taken to rectify these translation issues .
Why This Matters: Real‑World Consequences
The consequences of such mistranslations can be dramatic:
- Official statements risk being misquoted or misunderstood, sowing confusion about government policies and intent.
- Public sentiment and trust may take a hit if erroneous translations lead to perceived misinformation.
- A recent incident underlines the impact: an incorrect English translation of a Kannada Facebook post falsely suggested that CM Siddaramaiah had died. In fact, the post was about him paying respects to the late actress B. Sarojadevi—an error traced back solely to a faulty auto-translate feature . This widely circulated misinterpretation could have triggered unnecessary panic and concern.
Meta’s Silence and Broader Implications
Despite the seriousness of these concerns and the formal complaint, Meta has not yet responded to either the public remarks or the letter from the CMO . This silence has intensified calls from the CM for urgent corrective measures.
The issue highlights a broader question: Can tech giants be relied upon to translate regional languages accurately? With platforms like Facebook and Instagram serving diverse global communities, the fidelity of auto-generated translations becomes critical.
The Call to Action: From Algorithm to Human Expertise
Siddaramaiah’s demands reflect a growing consensus: while AI translations are useful, they must be supplemented with human insight, especially for regional languages rich in nuance like Kannada. Collaboration with linguists would:
- Ensure semantic correctness, preserving subtle contextual meanings.
- Avoid cultural or idiomatic misinterpretation.
- Minimise the risk of misinformation and digital miscommunication, especially during official announcements.
State Perspective and Regional Language Sovereignty
The Karnataka government’s stance is clear: it’s not an anti‑tech position, but a reminder of the responsibility that comes with public-facing automations. Language is a facet of identity, culture, and governance—and mistranslations can undermine all three.
Siddaramaiah reinforced a warning: public communication is a constitutional function. Distrust created via poor translation can erode democratic processes and public faith in the government .
Looking Ahead: Will Meta Respond?
The next steps will be telling:
- Will Meta suspend or review the auto-translation feature for Kannada content?
- Will they engage reputed language experts to refine their translation systems?
- Could this action by Karnataka set a precedent for other states/languages?
India’s growing emphasis on digital governance and regional language preservation could make this a landmark case for tech accountability. The resolution—whether proactive or enforced—could set new standards for how platforms manage AI-based translations for diverse linguistic communities.
Conclusion
CM Siddaramaiah’s call to Meta isn’t merely a critique of translation errors—it’s a wake-up call about the importance of accurate, contextually aware communication in the digital age. With a formal complaint lodged and public attention heightened, the onus is now on Meta to listen, learn, and act.
Will we soon see a “Translation 2.0” for Kannada, backed by human insight and cultural sensitivity, or will this cautionary tale go unheard? Only time—and Meta’s next move—will tell.
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