Social media platforms present 'Voluntary Code of Ethics' for LS polls to ECI

The Social Media Platforms and Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) on Wednesday presented a 'Voluntary Code of Ethics' for the forthcoming general elections to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra for curbing fake news on social media ahead of the polls.

The Code of Ethics has been developed as a follow up to the meeting held on Tuesday with the IAMAI and representatives of social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Google, ShareChat and TikTok etc.

The meeting was held to review the steps being taken to identify and report electoral rule violations in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections.

 

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora while appreciating the steps taken, said that formulation of the Code augurs a good beginning but is essentially a work in making.

He said that the participants need to follow in letter and spirit, the commitments made in the Code of Ethics.

The platforms have committed to processing any violations reported under Section 126 of RP Act, 1951 within three hours as per Sinha Committee recommendations.

The platforms have also agreed to create a high priority dedicated reporting mechanism for the ECI and appoint dedicated teams during the period of General Elections for taking expeditious action on any reported violations.

The participants have also agreed to provide a mechanism for political advertisers to submit pre-certified advertisements issued by Media Certification and Monitoring Committee.

The Code of Ethics also promised to facilitate transparency in paid political advertisements.

The IAMAI has agreed to coordinate with participants various steps mentioned in this code. Participants have also committed to voluntarily undertake voter awareness campaigns.

The 'Code of Ethics" has been developed to ensure free, fair and ethical usage of social media platforms to maintain the integrity of the electoral process for the general elections. The Code voluntarily agreed upon by the Participants comes into operation with immediate effect.