The United Kingdom’s development finance arm invested in an Indian social media site that hosted videos showing abuse of women, selling sexual services, and glorifying Hamas’ attacks on Israel, prompting strong criticism from an aid watchdog.
British International Investment is accused of breaking its own rules by failing to make “an appropriate investment for UK aid” in a report that also reveals BII funding for a cosmetic surgery clinic, dating sites, and a debt collection firm in India.
Furthermore, the financing of the social media site came just two months after BII assured parliament that it only backs projects to alleviate poverty or secure a greener economy — raising questions about the truthfulness of that testimony.