Election office prepares plan to curb fake news

New Delhi: In order to check spread of fake news and hate speech, the authorities will keep a strict vigil on social media platforms and take strict action against the violators. For the “first time”, a social media expert has also been included in the media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC) of the poll body, which will monitor all forms of media, both at state-level and district-level.

The authorities will be monitoring all forms of media, including TV, radio, social media like Facebook and Twitter, to check spread of any fake news and hate speech.

For any individual violator, it will be reported at the district-level and for political parties, any violation would be reported at the state-level.

A day after the Lok Sabha poll schedule was announced by the Election Commission, Delhi chief electoral officer Ranbir Singh also appealed to the people to use EC’s app named “cVIGIL” to report any violations of moral code of conduct like use of money, gifts or liquor to influence voters, muscle power to intimidate voters or use of hate speech.

The parliamentary elections will begin on April 11 and will be held over seven phases, followed by counting of votes on May 23. The elections in Delhi will be held on May 12. In January, the EC had directed Delhi CEO to ask the city police to investigate the “fake news” of Lok Sabha poll schedule, which was being circulated on social media then. The CEO had also been asked to seek action against unnamed persons and entities under relevant laws to prevent rumour-mongering.

Asked what would be the nature of action against such violations, Mr Singh said, “appropriate action” would be taken, as per the laws.

He also appealed people to use the internet-based application “cVIGIL”, which stands for “citizens’ vigil” to report cases of poll code violations.

Using this Android-based app, a person can send geo-tagged videos and photos, if any illegal money is being distributed or a hate speech being made during polls.

Mr Singh said if any violations of the moral code of conduct is seen by people, like use of money, gifts or liquor to influence voters, muscle power to intimidate voters or use of hate speech, then a user can take a picture or a video and report it through this app.

The Delhi CEO said once the details are uploaded, the complaint will be sent to a “flying squad” which will then escalate the complaint.