Context:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to take down certain election-related posts.
More on the news:
- A social media platform has agreed to the directive made by the EC to withhold certain posts during the Lok Sabha elections. However, the platform has stated that it disagrees with the orders.
- Thus, in the interest of transparency, the platform (referred to as “X”) has made public the emails sent by the EC earlier this month.
- These emails clearly stated that the posts in question violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and that X had a responsibility to remove these posts as it had to agreed to the Voluntary Code of Ethics for social media platforms.
- The platform expressed disagreement with the ECI’s actions, advocating for expanded freedom of expression for political speech.
Voluntary Code of Ethics
- Formulated in 2019 to regulate social media during elections.
- Response to the increasing influence of social media in political discourse.
- Aims to maintain transparency and accountability in election-related content.
- Reflects efforts to address challenges posed by the digital era to traditional election regulations.
Emergence of Ethics Code:
- Committee formed under Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha in January 2019.
- The committee suggested changes to the Representation of People Act, 1951, to cover social media posts in the 48 hours before polling, when conventional campaigning is banned.
- Reflects the proactive approach of regulatory bodies in adapting to technological advancements in election campaigning.
- Demonstrates collaborative efforts between stakeholders to address emerging challenges in electoral processes.
What does this Code say:
- Awareness campaigns about elections and electoral laws.
- Establishment of a grievance redressal channel for EC-reported cases.
- Valid legal orders from the EC will be acknowledged and processed within three hours for violations reported under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and other valid legal requests would be acted upon “expeditiously”.
- Section 126 refers to the curbs on campaigning in the 48 hours preceding polling.
- Compliance extended to all elections post-2019 Lok Sabha elections.
- Highlights the role of social media platforms in ensuring the integrity of electoral processes.
Rules Cited by EC for order to remove post:
- The ECI cited the MCC, which prohibits criticism of political parties and candidates based on unverified allegations and private life. These rules aim to maintain fairness and decency in election campaigns.
- Reminder of EC’s advisory to adhere to MCC and maintain decorum during election campaigns.
- Illustrates the significance of regulating online content to ensure fair and ethical elections.
X’s Reaction:
- Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) complied with ECI’s takedown orders on election-related posts but disagreed, asserting freedom of expression.
- They emphasized the need for transparency, requesting EC to publish future takedown orders.
- This highlights the debate on social media’s role in regulating political speech while safeguarding free expression.
Conclusion:
- The conflict between social media platforms and regulatory authorities underscores the need for effective regulation to balance freedom of expression with the integrity of electoral processes. The Voluntary Code of Ethics represents a step towards achieving this balance, although challenges persist in its implementation and interpretation.