IAMAI to abide by social media codes

Mumbai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has put out a “Voluntary Code of Ethics” on social media platforms that will be observed during Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra and all future elections.

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), on behalf of its members, has agreed to abide by it.

During elections, a lot of advertisements promoting political parties and their candidates mushroom on social media. However, there have been complaints that there is no control over them. The ECI’s code of ethics is likely to curb malpractices in this matter.

According to ECI sources, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp have agreed to follow the code in all future elections, including the upcoming Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly polls.

“The IAMAI, on behalf of its members, has agreed to observe the code during all future elections, including elections to the Haryana and Maharashtra Legislative Assemblies and various by-elections held simultaneously,” the poll panel said in a statement.

The code, designed to act against paid advertisements that violate the norms set by the ECI, came into force on March 20 during the last Lok Sabha polls.

During those polls, social media platforms took action against 909 such cases of violation reported by the ECI. According to the code, no political campaign will be allowed to run on social media platforms in the last 48 hours before polling ends.

This period is referred to as the “silence period” and allows voters to make an informed decision without the heat and dust of campaigning. The code also facilitates transparency.