Facebook India appoints ex-IAS officer Rajiv Aggarwal as head of public policy

By Team Newsable | First Published Sep 20, 2021, 1:42 PM IST

In this capacity, according to a statement, Aggarwal will design and manage key policy development efforts for Facebook in India, including user safety, data security and privacy, inclusion, and internet governance.

Rajiv Aggarwal, an ex-IAS officer and former Uber executive, has been named Director of Public Policy at Facebook India. He has taken over from Ankhi Das, who resigned in October of last year. Her opposition to the implementation of hate-speech laws against right-wing figures in the country landed her in hot water. In this capacity, according to a statement, Aggarwal will design and manage key policy development efforts for Facebook in India, including user safety, data security and privacy, inclusion, and internet governance.

Aggarwal will report to Ajit Mohan, Vice President and Managing Director of Facebook India, as part of the India leadership team. According to the statement, his most recent position was with Uber, where he served as the Head of Public Policy for India and South Asia. Aggarwal is a 26-year veteran of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) who has served as a District Magistrate in nine districts across Uttar Pradesh.

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As Joint Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (M/o Commerce), he directed India's first-ever national policy on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and was crucial in India's IP offices' digital transformation to the statement.

According to the statement, in addition to being India's chief negotiator on IPRs with other countries, he has been intimately engaged with the India-US bilateral trade conference.
Speaking on the appointment, Ajit Mohan stated that Facebook is an ally for India's dynamic economic and social change, in which digital plays a key role. He expressed his delight that Rajiv will be joining them to lead the Public Policy team and that they have the potential to assist develop a more inclusive and safe internet that benefits everyone in the country. Rajiv's knowledge and experience, he noted, will contribute to our objective of fostering openness, accountability, and empowered and safe communities, all of which we recognise as our duty. Rajiv Aggarwal's hiring follows a flurry of senior and executive hires in recent months in marketing, alliances, communications, and other critical areas, indicating the company's growing commitment to India.

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