EC to closely monitor digital promotions of political parties
Posted on: 06/Apr/2019 3:52:26 PM
The Election Commission is constantly insisted upon showing increased focus on digital platforms in order to ensure integrity at a time now when the general elections are nearing. Organizations and citizens from the Internet Freedom Foundation, Common Cause and N. Gopalaswami, the former Chief Election Commissioner have all requested for the same.
On Friday, the former civil servants including Free Software Movement of India, Constitutional Conduct, and Association of Democratic Reforms got into discussions with the Election Commission officials where assurance was given for extra care to consider the suggestions. However, there is only virtually ineffectual voluntary code of ethics imposed at the end of Internet and Mobile Association in India. There is no other significant progress in this regard.
There is alarming threat of digital platforms, and this may spoil the integrity of forthcoming elections. The suggestions are constantly monitor the kind of expenses made by the political parties in order to run online election campaigns. Apart from the political party that handles the promotions, there are other parties and individuals who may handle the social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, etc. These are also to be monitored closely.
The suggestion also recommends mandating the political parties about sharing the authentic names of companies that officially take care of social media promotions and digital marketing for their parties, and about the consultants who take care of regular social media posts. Details of social media spending are to be made transparent to the public. Any kind of contract made between the political party and digital marketing vendors should be made public.
These recommendations are also welcomed by citizens including society members and artists and former constitutional office holders, and retired secretaries and CECs.
The commission should take a call in this regard and take essential actions in addition to what is already done.
In his note about this, Quraishi, the former CEC says there are millions of social media users, particularly on WhatsApp. They can communicate within seconds. Of all the dangerous means of communications, WhatsApp is the most dangerous. Social media ad its consequences are highly strong.
The rules applied to mainstream media should also be applied on the social media, he adds. Each and every penny spent on social media should be accounted. The Election Commission should also give its approval for all kinds of social media promotions beforehand. These are just the election regulation basics.
