Social media platforms are to be prevented from disseminating false information, hate speech, mud singing campaigns and biased propaganda programmes using internet during the upcoming general election period, official sources said.
The usage of social media platforms has been of concern during the run-up to an election.Local and international election monitoring groups raised concerns over this issue.
Social media platforms were used on previous occasions to propagate hate speech, misinformation, and to also promote political candidates during the 48-hour silent period which was declared before the poll.
The National Election Commission has already taken action to monitor social media plat forms following discussions with those platforms including YouTub, Facebook and Twitter to prevent the misuse of these platforms.
National Election Commission official noted that YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook will provide a dedicated service to monitor these platforms during this year’s general election.In the past, candidates used public speaking and distributing pamphlets for their campaigns.
But with the rise of organised mass media, campaigns began using newspapers, radio and TV.Today, campaigners and voters both take to social media to discuss and debate politics.
Election authorities try to ensure that campaign activities stay within what is allowed by local laws and regulations, so that voters are not unduly influenced and all candidates contest on a level playing field.
, Sri Lanka’s Election Commission gazetted media guidelines for elections. Social media is mentioned twice in these guidelines.
Section 30 requires administrators of social media sites to follow these guidelines as applicable to them, during an election and Section 31 says it is both the duty and responsibility of mass media owners as well as administrators and users of social media to adhere to these guidelines
(LI)