Startup Originals Team
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently voiced strong criticism of Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) following an alarming translation error. An official condolence message posted in Kannada was inaccurately auto-translated into English, incorrectly stating that the Chief Minister himself had died. The incident not only sparked confusion and concern but also raised serious questions about the reliability of AI-driven translation tools-especially in sensitive contexts involving public announcements.
Faulty Translation Sparks Outrage:
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office had shared a condolence message in Kannada mourning the passing of veteran actress B. Sarojadevi. However, Meta’s auto-translation tool rendered it in English as if “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah passed away” Understandably, the CM was appalled.
In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Siddaramaiah warned:
“Faulty auto-translation of Kannada content on @Meta platforms is distorting facts & misleading users. This is especially dangerous when it comes to official communications.”
This wasn’t a mere typo-it was a fundamental misrepresentation from an official source, with potential to sow misinformation.
Public vs. Private Concerns:
The Chief Minister’s media advisor, K. V. Prabhakar, followed up by sending Meta a formal email on July 16, 2025. The letter highlighted that:
- Kannada-to-English translations on Meta’s platforms have been “frequently inaccurate and, in some cases, grossly misleading”
- Such errors pose “a significant risk, especially when public communications or important messages from the Chief Minister and the Government are incorrectly rendered”
The advisor stressed that people may not recognize that they’re reading machine-generated translations-not official statements.
The CM’s Call to Action:
In response, the Karnataka government has made specific demands:
- Temporarily suspend Meta’s Kannada auto-translation feature
- Collaborate with qualified Kannada language experts and linguists
- Improve translation accuracy, particularly for official and public communications
Siddaramaiah emphasized that tech platforms must act responsibly, cautioning citizens to be wary of unreliable translations.
Meta’s Response & Apology:
Meta responded swiftly, acknowledging the glitch and confirming it had been addressed. A spokesperson stated:
“We fixed an issue that briefly caused this inaccurate Kannada translation. We apologise that this happened.”
While the company says the error was resolved, the Karnataka government insists that preventive measures-like system improvements and expert oversight-are essential to avoid future mishaps.
Why This Matters:
- Trust in Official Communication: Misleading translations from official accounts can undermine credibility and spark unnecessary confusion.
- Language Sensitivity: In linguistically diverse India, automated errors can have social, political, and cultural repercussions.
- AI Tools – Flawed?: The incident serves as a reminder that algorithmic translations are not infallible especially in high-stakes contexts.
