While there is an increase in the trends of misinformation on social media, the Election commission of India has issued guidelines for the responsible and ethical use of social media platforms and strict avoidance of any wrongful use by political parties and their representatives during MCC period in General Elections and by- elections.
Here are some points to be remembered:
Not use social media platforms to disseminate any misinformation or information
Not impersonate another person, including political parties or their representatives on a social media platform; and among other things
Not post or promote content which is derogatory towards women or repugnant to the honour and dignity of women
Not use social media platforms to carry any content which goes against the Commission’s advisories prohibiting the use of children in any political campaigning
Not portray violence, harm or harassment of animals in any of their content on social media platforms.
Not allow their respective social media handles to publish and circulate deepfake audios/videos which violate the provisions of extant rules and regulations.
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.
Report the presence of any unlawful information and fake user accounts, looking alike their official handles on a social media platform, to the concerned social media platform forthwith.
In case of continued presence of such unlawful information or fake user account after reporting to social media platform, to approach the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) under Rule 3A of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
