Model code, political ad rules will apply to social media too

New Delhi: The model code of conduct and its pre-certified political advertisement rules will apply to the social media as well. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora said all major social media platforms — Facebook, Twitter, Google, WhatsApp and Share Chat — are committed to accepting only pre-certified political advertisements, sharing expenditure on it with the Election Commission (EC) and adhering to the “silence period” that comes into effect 48 hours before the polls.

For the first time, all candidates will be asked to give details of their social media accounts while filing their nomination papers. The EC said social media platforms like Twitter, Google and Facebook have “committed in writing” to ensuring a special monitoring mechanism for a clean campaign.

In an attempt to check fake news, social media platforms have been asked to appoint officers and take action against offenders, said the CEC. These “grievance officers” will take “necessary and prompt actions against the contents published on their platforms”, said Arora.

Social media platforms have assured action on any content reported by designated officers of the election body. “The Internet and Mobile Association of India, in consultation with the EC, is formulating a set of code of ethics for intermediary online platforms,” the CEC said and added “All expenditure on campaigning ads on social media has to be included in the election expenditure account.”

The EC has also decided to bring bulk SMSes/ voice messages on phone and election campaigning through social media under the purview of precertification of poll advertisements, just like electronic and radio advertisements.