Election Commission to keep a track on social media political campaigns

Social media users, particularly supporters of political parties or candidates in the upcoming general elections, be cautious before posting messages.

One would have to face legal action if defaming messages targeting individuals, caste or religion, are posted.

The Election Commission (EC) is keeping a close watch on the content that political parties, candidates and their supporters post on social media to check for any violation of the model code of conduct.

As general elections are fast approaching, social media has turned into a powerful tool for political parties and their supporters for campaigning. Unethical messages, targeting and defaming individuals or opponents, based on caste, community or religion, would attract legal action.

While political parties and aspiring candidates have formed teams to manage social media such as Facebook and Twitter for campaigning, their supporters have been using their personal accounts to post and share the messages. The supporters are also active on mobile applications such as WhatsApp and Messenger, posting messages in the form of video, audio and text.

A few people have been active on social sites for over six months and have been spreading messages both for and against a political party or leaders. Now, as the Election Commission has announced the dates of the election, the supporters have turned active. The messages, highlighting the lapses of governments, leaders and scams are doing the rounds in the social media. While the supporters upload pro-party messages, opponents float lapses and also pass offensive messages.

Lokesh, a political party worker, said he has been using social media to campaign in favour of a particular political party as it is easy to spread messages among a large number of people. "I highlight the lapses of the opponents. But, I have never used offensive language. I have seen a few people, dropping unlawful messages on social sites. It should not be done. Such messages also result in violence," he said.

Nishanta Kumar, a college student, who has no interest in politics said that he receives at least 20 messages a day, pertaining to elections and political parties. "I am helpless. From the messages, one thing I have understood that all political parties are the same with different names. I have noticed defamatory remarks in a few messages," he said.

Deputy Commissioner, also District Election Officer, K B Sivakumar said that no one is allowed to spread defamatory messages using social or any other media. The Election Commission is monitoring the social media and action would be initiated through the Cyber Crime Detection department.