Social media firms come up with code of ethics

Social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, agreed on Wednesday to process any request from the Election Commission to take down content within three hours during the 48-hour period before voting days.

Facebook, Twitter, Google, WhatsApp, ShareChat and ByteDance and Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) presented the  "voluntary code of ethics to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners  Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra on Wednesday evening.

The code has been developed to ensure free, fair and ethical usage of social media platforms to maintain the integrity of the electoral process, the Election Commission said.