Social media platforms Facebook, Google, WhatsApp, ShareChat, TikTok and the IAMAI have agreed to a voluntary code of ethics to abide by during the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, which are set to begin on April 11. The code came into effect on March 20, and will remain in force throughout the elections. Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said although the code is a good beginning, its "essentially a work in making". A summary of what platforms have agreed to in the code (see a copy at the bottom): Notification mechanism for ECI to report violations to platforms: Platforms have developed a notification mechanism for the ECI to legally notify them of potential violations of Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and other electoral laws. The notification system for Google is a Google webform; a legal submissions portal page for Twitter; an email address for ShareChat and Facebook, per the Indian Express. Company officials said that they are yet to train the ECI on how to use their notification systems. Action within 3 hours for violations of 48-hour silent period: For reported violations of Section 126 of the RP Act - which prohibits political parties and candidates from campaigning in the two days before voting - platforms will acknowledge and/ or process these legal orders within 3 hours (as per the Sinha Committee recommendations). For other legal requests, platforms will act upon them "expeditiously" based on the nature of reported violation. Platforms committed to "creating/opening a high…
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Social media platforms and IAMAI enact ‘voluntary code of ethics’ for Elections 2019; Some challenges
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