New Delhi: Social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Google have taken down 628 objectionable posts at the Election Commission’s request since the Model Code of Conduct came into force on 10 March.

Over 90 per cent of these posts were published on Facebook, data compiled by the Election Commission shows. However, an EC official told ThePrint that the poll body has not yet compiled the details of which parties the posts were affiliated to or sought to promote.

While the number of posts taken down by Facebook is 578, Twitter was a distant second with just 49. WhatsApp and Google have so far taken down just three and two posts respectively.

The social media giants had signed a voluntary code of ethics with the EC in March, according to which they agreed to remove content within three hours if found to be in violation of either the Model Code of Conduct or the 48-hour silence period — the mandated time between the end of campaigning and the beginning of polling.

The voluntary code was developed in order to ensure “free, fair & ethical usage of social media platforms to maintain the integrity of the electoral process”.

Contents of the posts

Of the 628 posts taken down, 477 featured political content during the 48-hour silence period. Another 37 posts were taken down for violating the MCC.

Sixty political ads were removed from Facebook during the silence period. According to an analysis by AltNews, the BJP has been the highest spender on political ads on Facebook — in a two-week period in March, the party spent more than Rs 1.5 crore on them.

Even though the election campaign on the ground has been dominated by hate speech and bluster, only 11 posts have been removed under the ‘hate speech/undue influence’ category.

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