Maharashtra Poll Authority Orders Removal of 1,752 Misleading Social Media Posts Ahead of Elections

The Chief Electoral Officer in Maharashtra has issued notices to several social media platforms. These notices demand the removal of 1,752 posts spreading fake news intended to mislead voters. Following this action, over 300 posts were deleted after being flagged by the election authorities, as stated in an official release on Friday.

Assembly elections in Maharashtra are scheduled for November 20. The objectionable posts were distributed across various platforms: 143 on Facebook, 280 on Instagram, 1,296 on X, 31 on YouTube, and two on other sites. Facebook has removed 16 posts so far, with action pending on 127 others. Instagram has taken down 29 posts, X has removed 251, and YouTube has deleted five since the notices were issued.

Election Code Violations and Enforcement

The notices were sent under section 793 b of the Information Technology Act. This section allows law enforcement to instruct intermediaries to remove content that could be used unlawfully. Additionally, the Election Commission's c-VIGIL app received 420 complaints about breaches of the election code of conduct. Of these complaints, 414 have been resolved, with Thane district recording the highest number of disposals.

Since the implementation of the code of conduct earlier this week, authorities have seized materials worth Rs 10.64 crore. This includes cash, drugs, liquor, and costly freebies. The enforcement actions aim to ensure a fair election process by curbing illegal activities and misinformation campaigns.

The ongoing efforts by the Chief Electoral Officer highlight the importance of maintaining electoral integrity. By addressing misinformation and enforcing the election code, authorities are working to ensure a transparent and fair voting environment for Maharashtra's upcoming assembly elections.