The elections to the 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases, starting with 102 in the first phase on April 19. The votes will be counted on June 4. Photo: Shutterstock
The Election Commission will adopt a two-pronged strategy to deal with misinformation and false narratives on social media during the Lok Sabha polls, with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar claiming that the Election Commission will “join the issue” to give the voters the right picture . .
Addressing a press conference to announce the schedule for the 18th Lok Sabha elections, Kumar said the committee will soon launch a ‘Myth vs Reality’ project to clear the air around the spread of fake news on social media.
“Disinformation causes us a lot of problems during elections. We are aware of two facts: that social media helps us in our outreach programs and that there is freedom to criticize anyone in a democracy. But one cannot allow fake news to be created, which is not the case. based on facts, because it can disrupt public order,” he said.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kumar said that under Sections 69 and 79 (3) of the IT Act, authorities in any state have the power to ask for removal of fake posts on social media.
“Appropriate officers have been appointed or are being appointed in all states. We have undergone thorough training in every district to deal with these types of threats. Our entire apparatus will now respond to what comes through (with the help of) facts. We will join the issue instead of staying in the background,” Kumar said.
“If anyone tries to create a fake story that distorts the level playing field or disrupts public order, we will also join them. We will soon launch a ‘Myth vs Reality’ project to clear the air around the spread of fake news on social media,” the CEC added.
The elections to the 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases, starting with 102 in the first phase on April 19. The votes will be counted on June 4.
“Tackling disinformation in today’s digital age is complex. We have taken certain measures to ensure that misinformation is nipped in the bud. We will be proactive in unmasking fake news. The creators of fake news will be dealt with strictly as per existing laws.” Kumar further said.
“Remember: ‘Verify before amplifying’ is the mantra for fighting fake news. Let’s rely on authoritative sources to ensure accurate information prevails. Remain vigilant and help us maintain the integrity of the electoral process,” he added.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
First print: March 16, 2024 | 11:40 PM IST