Social media on ‘voluntary ethics’ ahead of Indian polls
Social media platforms have come up with a "voluntary code of ethics" in India ahead of the country's parliamentary election beginning next month.
Facebook, Twitter, Google, WhatsApp, ShareChat and ByteDance and Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) presented the code to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora yesterday evening, our New Delhi correspondent reports.
The code envisages taking down of a content which violates election law within three hours of its post and bringing transparency in political advertising.
The code of ethics, which has gone into immediate effect, was developed as a follow-up of Tuesday's meeting with IAMAI and representatives of Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Google, ShareChat and TikTok.
Arora said formulation of the voluntary code of ethics "augurs a good beginning but is essentially a work in making," according to a press statement issued by the EC.
He said the IAMAI and social media platforms 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 Representation of People Act, 1951 (which stipulates no political advertisement during the 48 hours leading to polling) within three hours.
As per the code of ethics, a copy of which was circulated to the media, the platforms have also agreed to create a high-priority dedicated reporting mechanism for the EC and appoint dedicated teams during the period of parliamentary elections for taking expeditious action on any reported violations.
The platforms also agreed to provide a mechanism for political advertisers to submit pre-certified advertisements issued by EC's Media Certification and Monitoring Committee.
The code of ethics also promises to facilitate transparency in paid political advertisements.
The IAMAI and the social media platforms said the code of ethics has been developed to ensure free, fair and ethical usage of the platforms to maintain the integrity of the electoral process for the general elections
About one-third of India's 900 million voters are active on social media, making this one of the world's biggest ever attempts to monitor internet content.
As per the code of ethics, a notification mechanism has been developed through which EC can inform relevant social media platforms of potential violations of Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
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