The Bombay High Court Monday asked Facebook why it is reluctant to strictly regulate paid political content in India when it was implementing stringent scrutiny systems in the UK and the US.

Hearing a plea seeking directions to the Election Commission to prohibit individuals from posting political or poll-related advertisements or paid political content on social media platforms 48 hours before poll day, the high court directed Facebook to file an affidavit listing steps it could initiate to regulate such content, particularly ahead of the elections this year.