Meta Issues Apology After Incorrectly Announcing Indian Minister’s Death
Meta Issues Apology Over Translation Error Involving Karnataka Chief Minister
Incident Overview
Meta has issued an apology following a significant translation blunder on its platforms that incorrectly indicated the death of Karnataka’s Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah.
Context of the Error
The mishap took place on Tuesday when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah shared a condolence message in Kannada on both Facebook and Instagram, expressing his sorrow over the death of renowned actress B Saroja Devi. Unfortunately, the auto-translation feature on these platforms misinterpreted the post, leading English-speaking users to believe that the chief minister had passed away.
Meta’s Response
A spokesperson for Meta acknowledged the issue, stating, “We’ve resolved a problem that led to this incorrect translation from Kannada.” They expressed regret for the confusion caused by the error.
Criticism from the Chief Minister
The chief minister quickly voiced his discontent, accusing Meta of “distorting facts” and misleading users due to the inadequacies of its Kannada translation tool. He emphasized that such inaccuracies could have serious repercussions, especially in official communications.
Demands for Action
Siddaramaiah’s media advisor, KV Prabhakar, reached out to Meta, urging the company to take immediate corrective measures. He recommended that Meta temporarily halt Kannada auto-translations until the accuracy of the system could be guaranteed. Additionally, he called for collaboration with experts in the Kannada language to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
Ongoing Issues with Translation
Despite Meta’s assurances, a review by the BBC on Friday revealed that the English auto-translation still contained awkward phrasing, stating, “The multilingual star, senior actress B Sarojadevi who passed away yesterday, paid his last respects.” As of now, Meta has not confirmed whether it will suspend Kannada translations while improvements are being made.
