Reported By: Nivedita Singh
Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee
News18.com
Last Updated:
New Delhi, India
The ECI said use of manipulated, distorted, edited content on social media has the potential to wrongfully sway voter opinions, deepen societal divisions, and erode trust in the electioneering process. (Image: News18)
Taking note of model code violations during the Lok Sabha election campaigning by political parties, the Election Commission of India on Monday issued directions for responsible and ethical use of social media to ensure a level-playing field for all stakeholders.
In a communication to the president, general secretary and chairperson of all national and state-recognised parties, the poll body reminded them that it has repeatedly given directions to maintain decorum and utmost restraint during public campaigning.
“The commission once again directs with emphasis that all the political parties and their leaders must refrain from using in their campaigning any technological/AI-based tools, which distort information or spread misinformation, and resultantly lower the standards of electioneering,” the ECI said in a four-page letter.
It said the use of manipulated, distorted, edited content on social media platforms has the potential to wrongfully sway voter opinions, deepen societal divisions, and erode trust in the electioneering process by attacking laid out instrumentalities of the electoral steps in terms of means and material.
“Further, the scale of spread of such misinformation has been observed to be dangerously unrestrained due to the availability of the option of forwarding/resharing/ reposting/retweeting on social media platforms,” it added.
The poll body asked parties not to use social media platforms to disseminate any misinformation or information, which is patently false, untrue or misleading in nature. It also asked them not to impersonate another person, including political parties or their representatives, on a social media platform.
“Not post or promote content, which is derogatory towards women or repugnant to the honour and dignity of women; and not use social media platforms to carry any content that goes against the Commission’s advisories prohibiting the use of children in any political campaigning,” it said.
The parties were also warned not to post content that portray violence, harm or harassment of animals in any of their content on social media.
The EC has also warned the parties against misuse of AI-based tools to create deepfakes that distort information or propagate misinformation, stressing on the need to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
“The ECI has brought to the notice of political parties the existing legal provisions that govern the regulatory framework against the use of misinformation and impersonation using deepfakes. This includes the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Indian Penal Code and framework of the twin acts namely the Representation of People Act, 1950 and 1951 and the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct,” it added.
In view of the existing legal provisions, among other directions, the parties have been specifically directed to refrain from publishing and circulating deepfake audios and videos. Also, they have been directed to promptly remove any such content within three hours of notice and warn the person responsible, reporting unlawful information and fake user accounts to respective platforms, and escalate persistent issues to the Grievance Appellate Committee under Rule 3A of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
“Whenever such deepfake audios/videos come to the notice of political parties, they shall immediately take down the post but maximum within a period of 3 hours and also identify and warn the responsible person within the party,” it said.