Studying Content Moderation In India: A User-Centric Inquiry By CASCA, RGNUL

Established in 2006, the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) has built a reputation as an institution for legal research and education. With an emphasis on academic excellence, interdisciplinary engagement, and public policy impact, RGNUL continues to play a role in shaping legal scholarship and practice in India.

The Centre for Advanced Studies in Cyber Law and Artificial Intelligence (CASCA) is a research-driven initiative of RGNUL that brings together expertise in data governance, AI ethics, cybersecurity, and digital privacy. CASCA functions as an interdisciplinary ecosystem where scholars, legal practitioners, and students collaborate to translate technological challenges into legal and policy frameworks. Their work bridges the gap between technological innovation and regulatory development, through initiatives such as submissions to the MeitY on the Report on AI and Governance, comments on the draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, and inputs to the UN OHCHR, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the Meta Oversight Board. Notably, CASCA's submissions to the OHCHR and the Meta Oversight Board were cited in their respective final reports and decisions, reflecting the Centre's contribution to global discourse on digital rights and technology regulation. Through its commitment to academic rigour and policy relevance, CASCA plays a role in shaping digital governance frameworks in India and beyond.

This research explores how daily users interact with content moderation on Meta's platforms (Facebook and Instagram). The aim is to identify experiences with reporting content and your awareness of appeal processes like the Meta Oversight Board. While digital platforms increasingly influence public discourse, content governance remains critically understudied in regions like India, where user growth far outpaces institutional research. The goal is to identify the disconnect between corporate moderation frameworks and on-the-ground user needs, so reforms can be more evidence-based and inclusive.

By gathering different perspectives, CASCA aims to uncover potential gaps between platform policies and the real-world challenges users face. The ultimate goal is to contribute to evidence-based reforms that make digital governance more fair and user-centric.

Objectives:

• Understand how Indian social media users engage with content moderation mechanisms of Meta-owned Platforms (Instagram/Facebook) - particularly reporting tools and the Meta Oversight Board,
• To identify barriers to access, awareness, and trust in such processes.
• Support inclusive, evidence-based reforms in digital content governance.
• Identify gaps between platform governance frameworks and user experiences

Who should participate?
CASCA seeks participants who are active users of Facebook or Instagram from India.

Survey Link: https://forms.gle/BZvSoEdDwATxnRZL9

Contact

• Mr. Aditya Jain (+91 81303 87590)
• Mr. Tanmay Durani (+91 9311897556)