New Delhi: The Election Commission today warned internet companies against misuse of the popular platform by political parties during election campaign.
In a letter to Internet and Mobile Association of India and Chief Grievance Officers of all major social networking sites, the poll body has also asked the internet sites to inform the Commission regarding the expenditure incurred by political parties and candidates on political advertisements as and when demanded.
Poll time. Reuters
While the EC has already flagged the issue with political parties, it issued a directive to the Association saying that it was "very concerned" with the use of internet and social networking sites in election campaign.
The EC emphasised that no political advertisement should be accepted and displayed on internet and internet-based media without pre-certification.
It asked the internet-based media to carry out scrutiny to ensure that contents displayed by them during the electoral process is not unlawful, malicious or violative of the Model Code of Conduct which came into force on 5 March.
"In case any unlawful content coming to the notice of the election machinery and brought to the attention of internet-based media, the same would be removed forthwith," the EC said.
In October last, the EC had informed all political parties and Chief Electoral Officers that legal provisions relating to election campaigning apply to social media in the same manner in which they apply to any other form of election campaigning using any other media.
It had also asked candidates to ensure that the Commission is informed about their authentic social media accounts.
PTI
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