Maharashtra: Poll authority asks 1,752 'misleading' social media posts to be removed

Mumbai: The Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra has sent notices to various social media platforms, asking them to take down a total of 1,752 posts that contained fake news and were meant to create confusion among voters. More than 300 of these posts were deleted after they were flagged by the poll body, an official release said here on Friday.

The notices were sent under section 79(3) (b) of the Information Technology Act, which empowers law enforcement agencies to order intermediaries to remove any content that can be used for unlawful activities. Assembly elections will be held in Maharashtra on November 20. Of the objectionable posts, 143 were found on Facebook, 280 on Instagram, 1,296 on X , 31 on YouTube, and two on other platforms. Facebook has so far deleted 16 posts, while action was awaited on 127 more posts. Instagram has deleted 29, X has deleted 251 and YouTube has deleted five posts since the notices were sent, the release said.

It also informed that 420 complaints of violation of the election code of conduct were received on c-VIGIL app of the Election Commission. Out of these, 414 complaints were disposed of, the statement said, adding that the highest number of disposals were in Thane district. Since the code of conduct kicked in earlier this week, material costing Rs 10.64 crore has been recovered in the form of cash, drugs, liquor and expensive freebies, the release said.