Social media companies need to be careful with self-censorship

Social media companies Facebook, Google and Twitter in a recent meeting with the election commission offered to take voluntary measures to check the incidence of fake news and other objectionable content on their platforms. These measures are to cover all elections up to the next Lok Sabha election. The voluntary effort on the part of social media companies is to be welcomed. Their very nature makes heavy-handed regulation counterproductive. Some of the measures suggested by these companies, such as disclosures when they carry political advertisements or publicity campaign material, are only fair to users. Another measure which involves adherence to  Election Commission embargoes which apply to other media platforms makes for a level playing field.

One measure suggested by these companies needs careful handling. These companies have also committed to a level of self-censorship to halt divisiveness. As things stand these companies do have filters to check the spread of fake news or remove objectionable content. Despite pressure from governments which are unable to enhance their own governance standards and tend to pass the buck, it is important that the space provided by these companies for free expression is not constricted further. Social media’s popularity is on account of providing an easily accessible platform for expression. Free expression rarely meets with universal approval. Therefore, it’s important that social media companies are not pressurised into taking on unwarranted regulatory functions which undermine their primary role.

Read Also: Google, Facebook, Twitter to self-censor political content