DC Jain alerts Politicos for responsible and ethical use of social media platforms

SAS Nagar: District Election Officer-cum-DC Aashika Jain has called for responsible and ethical use of social media platforms and strict avoidance of any wrongful use by political parties/candidates and their representatives during MCC period in the district.
In the wake of certain provisions as part of Model code of Conduct and related instructions of the Election Commission of India to regulate the content being posted on the internet, including social media, the candidates and political parties should take utmost care of it, she added.
She further said that as per the constitutional duty to conduct free and fair elections and to ensure level playing field among the stakeholders, the political parties/candidates must adhere to the legal bindings under Model Code of Conduct, the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code ) Rules 2021, the Indian Penal Code and framework of the twin acts namely the Representation of People Act, 1950 and 1951 that govern the regulatory framework and underline the emphasis for the same.
The District Election Officer has asked the political parties/candidates  not to use social media platforms to disseminate any misinformation or information which is patently false, untrue or misleading in nature and those that impersonate another person, including any information which is synthetically created or generated or modified in a manner that such information reasonably appears to be authentic or true while in actuality dishonestly or fraudulently deceive any person who receives such information. Further, not to be impersonated another person, including political parties or their representatives on a social media platform; and among other things besides refraining from posting or promoting content which is derogatory towards women or repugnant to the honour and dignity of women.
Prohibition on use of social media platforms to carry any content which goes against the Commission’s advisories prohibiting the use of children in any political campaigning. Apart from that no one will portray violence, harm or harassment of animals in any of their content on social media platforms.
Further, any political party/candidate do not allow their respective social media handles to publish and circulate deepfake audios/videos which violate the provisions of extant rules and regulations.
She also appealed to the political parties and their leaders to maintain decorum and utmost restraint in public
campaigning besides refrain from using in their campaigning any technological/ AI based tools which distorts information or spreads misinformation, which resultantly lowers the standards of electioneering.