Meta Loses Public Policy Head in India Amid Ongoing Regulatory Challenges
India’s dynamic digital policy landscape has just seen another major shift. Meta’s public policy head in India, Shivnath Thukral, is stepping down, marking a significant leadership change just months after Google’s policy lead also exited. This change comes at a pivotal time for Meta, as the tech giant navigates India’s evolving regulatory environment—home to its largest user base for WhatsApp, Facebook, and Meta AI. Thukral’s departure has left many questioning how Meta will adapt its policy strategies, particularly with looming data privacy legislation and rising scrutiny from both regulators and telecom operators.
Shivnath Thukral’s Role and Exit from Meta India
Thukral’s journey at Meta spanned over seven years, with him officially taking over as India’s head of public policy in November 2022. His leadership played a critical role during key policy negotiations, including Meta’s successful appeal against a ban imposed by India’s antitrust regulator over WhatsApp's controversial 2021 data-sharing update. In his farewell note, Thukral highlighted the strong foundation his team has built, noting it was “a good time to let the engine and the team work on their own.” His decision signals confidence in Meta’s internal policy structure but also underscores the growing complexity of digital governance in India.
Meta's Growing Regulatory Challenges in India
With over 500 million users on WhatsApp alone, Meta faces mounting pressure from Indian authorities to comply with stricter digital norms. Proposed data privacy laws could soon mandate parental consent for children’s online activity, impacting how Meta rolls out features and targets ads. At the same time, Indian telecom operators continue to criticize WhatsApp for undercutting traditional services and failing to curb spam and unsolicited communications. As these concerns intensify, Meta must recalibrate its policy efforts, all while operating without a clear successor to Thukral.
Google and Meta Both in Transition
Thukral’s resignation closely follows the exit of Google India’s policy head, Sreenivasa Reddy, who stepped down in February amid unresolved antitrust battles. The simultaneous absence of public policy leads at two of the biggest tech players in India raises questions about industry readiness to deal with the country's tech regulations. For Meta, Thukral’s departure comes at a time when trust, transparency, and constructive stakeholder engagement are more critical than ever. Meta has confirmed no replacement has been appointed yet, leaving a gap during one of its most sensitive policy periods in India.
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