Social media companies to draft election code of ethics by Wednesday

The Election Commission has asked social media and internet companies to frame their own code of ethics on the lines of its Model Code of Conduct as it cracks down false information during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

In a meeting on Tuesday, representatives from Facebook, Google, Twitter, TikTok, ShareChat, and others and the industry body, Internet and Mobile Association of India, the commission they will come up with a ‘Code of Ethics’ for the Industry laying down operational details by Wednesday evening, when they are slated to meet again.

The companies and IAMAI told the commission what they were doing to prevent spread of misinformation and fake news, and to ensure that the Model Code of Conduct isn’t breached online.