海角大神

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, social media star?

With more than 30 million Facebook 鈥榣ikes鈥� and almost 15 million Twitter followers, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has built a solid following on social media. But critics say his new technology initiatives are unworthy of likes.

On September 27, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to lead a town hall question-and-answer session at Facebook鈥檚 Silicon Valley headquarters.

The Q&A session is an important part of Mr. Modi鈥檚 technology-focused visit to the US later this month. Besides meeting with President Obama in New York City on September 28, Modi has already scheduled appointments , reports the San Jose Mercury News.

Mr. Zuckerberg announced the meeting Sunday morning, where he wrote that the two will 鈥渄iscuss how communities can work together to address social and economic challenges.鈥�

Modi shared news of the meeting on , and, as of Monday morning,聽his post has almost 80,000 likes and 6,000 shares.

Followers are likely unsurprised by Modi鈥檚 meeting with Zuckerberg after the prime minister unveiled his Digital India initiative in early July.

鈥淚 dream of a digital India where high speed digital highways unite the nation. I dream of a digital India where government is open and governance is transparent,鈥� Modi said in his address on July 1.聽

鈥淒esign in India is very important鈥︹�� he added. 鈥淭he talent of our youth must be utilized. And we must focus on designing in India.鈥�

But not everyone is celebrating Modi鈥檚 approach to technology. Over 100 US professors last week to the leaders of Silicon Valley tech companies protesting Modi鈥檚 Digital India initiative.

While the Indian prime minister claims that Digital India will transform his country into , US professors argue the plan lacks privacy protection and could violate Indians鈥� rights.

鈥淲e urge those who lead Silicon Valley technology enterprises to be mindful of not violating their own codes of corporate responsibility when conducting business with a government which as, on several occasions already, demonstrated its disregard for human rights and civil liberties, as well as the autonomy of educational and cultural institutions,鈥� said the letter.

The US professors urge the technology community to understand the reality of Modi鈥檚 first year in office, which has been marked, they say, by 鈥渨ell publicized episodes of censorship and harassment of those critical of his policies, bans and restrictions on NGOs leading to a constriction of the space of civic engagement, ongoing violations of religious freedom, and a steady impingement on the independence of the judiciary.鈥�

Indians have been sending in their questions for the town hall meeting through the official . The public has voiced , the most common include Facebook鈥檚 potential role in improving education and pleas to Zuckerberg to eliminate Candy Crush requests.