Question : Fake News during General Elections

(a) the list of complaints against fake/ false news on social media during Lok Sabha Election Code of conduct along with the date of complaint, brief description of complaint and action taken thereon;
(b) whether Election Commission considered banning social media messaging apps like Whats-app during election code of conduct and if so, the details thereof;
(c) Whether the Election Commission is aware of deep fake technology videos of politicians and other personalities giving speeches which can be made and circulated; and
(d) if so, the steps taken by the Election Commission has taken to prevent the use of deep fake videos to create confusion?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a): The Election Commission has informed that during the recently held General Elections to Lok Sabha, 2019 and Legislative Assemblies of four States, in pursuance of “Voluntary code of ethics”several social media platforms were directed to remove content spreading fake/false news/misinformation. The Commission had received majority of such cases as complaints from social media nodal officers appointed at Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) at the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer. However, there were cases where social media team of the Commission had suo-moto reported cases to social media platforms. The details of all such cases of fake news or misinformation either received as complaint from Chief Electoral Office or reported by the Commission along with the date and brief description are at Annexure-I.

(b): The Commission has informed that no such proposal was taken up by them during the Lok Sabha Election, 2019.

(c) and (d): The Commission has informed that no such “deep fake technology videos” has been brought to their notice.

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ANNEXURE-1

Fake News/False News/Misinformation received/reported

Facebook (46 Cases)

S. No. Brief description of the case Date of complaint received/reported Number Action Taken by the ECI
1. Facebook posts spreading misinformation received from Chief Electoral Officer, Assam. 11.04.2019 02 Reported to Facebook
2. Facebook posts spreading misinformation received from Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur. 11.04.2019 01 Reported to Facebook
3. Facebook posts spreading fake/false information regarding indelible ink noticed by the social media team of the Election Commission. 15.04.2019 01 Reported to Facebook
4. Facebook posts spreading fake information stating Electronic Voting Machine(EVM) can be hacked noticed by the social media team of the Commission. 20.04.2019 06 Reported to Facebook
5. Facebook posts spreading fake information on EVM manipulation noticed by the social media team of the Commission. 25.04.2019 01 Reported to Facebook
6. Facebook posts spreading false information that a person whose name does not appear on voter list can also was received from Chief Electoral Officer, Rajasthan. 26.04.2019 01 Reported to Facebook
7. Facebook posts spreading fake/false information regarding 20 lakh EVMs gone missing was noticed by the social media team of the Commission. 09.05.2019 22 Reported to Facebook
8. Facebook posts spreading fake/false information regarding transportation of EVM without security was noticed by the social media team of the Commission. 09.05.2019 11 Reported to Facebook
9. Facebook posts spreading fake/false information regarding 550 EVMs replaced and missing CCTV footage of strong room was noticed by the social media team of the Commission. 15.05.2019 01 Reported to Facebook


Twitter (97 Cases)

S. No. Brief description of the case Date of complaint received/reported Number Action Taken by the ECI
1. Tweets spreading misinformation regarding indelible ink was noticed by the social media team of the Commission. The tweets were intended to mislead voters of a specific community. 26.03.2019 02 Reported to Twitter for removing the content. A First Information Report (FIR) was also filed in the matter.
2. A tweet spreading false information regarding Electronic Voting Machine(EVM) was forwarded by the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha. The tweet claimed that person voted for some party, whereas the light in EVM glowed for some other party. 13.04.2019 01 Reported to Twitter.
3. Tweet spreading misinformation regarding EVM was noticed by the social media team of the Commission. 15.04.2019 01 Reported to Twitter.
4. A list of tweets spreading misinformation regarding EVM was prepared by the social media team of the Commission. 09.05.2019 84 Reported to Twitter.
5. Tweets spreading misinformation regarding EVM transportation without security was noticed by the social media team of the Commission. 09.05.2019 09 Reported to Twitter.


YouTube (11 Cases)

S. No. Brief description of the case Date of complaint received/reported Number Action Taken by the ECI
1. Tweets spreading fake information stating that EVMs are missing were noticed by the social media team of the Election Commission. 09.05.2019 09 Reported to Google.
2. Tweet on EVM being transported without security was noticed by the social media team of the Commission. The information was found to be fake/false. 09.05.2019 01 Reported to Google.
3. Tweet spreading fake information stating that EVMs could be hacked was noticed by the social media team of the Commission. 17.05.2019 01 Reported to Google.