EC Cracks Down on 11,000 Social Media Posts During Assembly Polls, Orders Removals and FIRs Over Misleading Content
New Delhi: With the Assembly elections underway in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, and West Bengal, the Election Commission of India has intensified its monitoring of social media platforms, acting against more than 11,000 posts and URLs since the poll schedule was announced on March 15.
The poll panel has ordered the removal of objectionable content, sought clarifications, and, in several cases, directed registration of FIRs where posts were found to be misleading or capable of disturbing law and order.
Officials said the action has been taken in cases where content was seen as violating the Model Code of Conduct or had the potential to create confusion among voters.
The exercise is being carried out by State Nodal Officers designated under the Information Technology Act, who are tracking online activity during the election period.
According to the Election Commission, the highest number of complaints and actions have emerged from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, where political activity on digital platforms has been particularly intense.
Authorities are keeping a close watch on posts that may influence voters through misinformation, doctored visuals, or false narratives.
The Commission has also issued a clear directive regarding the use of artificial intelligence in election campaigning.
It has been said that any misleading or unlawful AI-generated content must be acted upon by social media platforms within three hours of being flagged.
Political parties and candidates have been asked to clearly label any AI-created or digitally manipulated material used in campaigns with disclosures such as “AI-generated”, “synthetic content,” or “digitally enhanced”, along with details of the originating source.
The move is aimed at ensuring transparency and maintaining voter confidence in the fairness of the electoral process.
Among the recent cases, authorities flagged an old video from 2022 that resurfaced online, claiming that Trinamool Congress workers were threatening voters in West Bengal not to support the BJP.
After verification, the content was removed, and West Bengal Police issued a public warning through its official social media handles stating that legal action would be taken against individuals responsible for circulating misleading material.
Election officials said that the growing use of social media as a campaign tool has made it necessary to respond quickly to misinformation, particularly content designed to provoke tension or mislead voters.
The Commission has reiterated that while digital platforms offer political parties a powerful means of outreach, they must be used responsibly, especially during elections when public sentiment is sensitive.
The Election Commission’s intervention reflects increasing concern about the impact of online misinformation on democratic processes.
By tightening scrutiny of digital content and insisting on transparency in AI-based campaign material, the poll panel hopes to ensure that voters are able to make informed choices without being influenced by false or manipulated narratives.
