Election Commission tells internet firms to remove any unlawful content from websites

NEW DELHI: As electioneering for Lok Sabha polls heats up, the Election Commission today asked internet companies to ensure that any "unlawful" content regarding elections posted on their websites is removed at the earliest.

In a fresh letter to Internet and Mobile Association of India, it said as and when any " unlawful content" comes to the notice of websites, it should be removed "at the earliest". It also asked the companies to ensure that the advertisers comply with the guidelines of the Commission regarding use of social media and internet platform for election campaign.

The poll panel said political parties and candidates placing advertisements on websites should be cautioned beforehand to comply with the various provisions of the Model Code of Conduct.

Last month, the Commission had warned internet companies against misuse of the popular platform by political parties during election campaign. It had also 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. The panel 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 March 5. In October last, the Commission had informed all political parties and chief electoral officers that legal provisions relating to election campaig apply to social media in the same manner in which they apply to any other form of election campaign using any other media.