Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in the world's largest democracy, social media giants Facebook and Google, along with YouTube, have devised a new political advertisement policy to prevent an encore of the US elections where foreign interference was reportedly rampant. To that end, they told the Bombay High Court on Monday that according to the new policy, only Indian nationals, with verified addresses, will be able to post advertisements on their networks.
Facebook's advertising policy will come into effect from February 21, while Google and YouTube have already made the policy operational since February 14. Senior counsel Iqbal Chagla, appearing for Google, said, "Our policy is supplementing the government notification regulating media, issued in 2013, which included social media, to ensure that free and fair elections take place." Senior counsel Darius Khambata appearing for Facebook added, "Our election advertising policy balances free speech." Interestingly, Facebook said a similar policy was operational in the USA, UK, and Brazil, which was being introduced in India. However, it contended that no advertisement will be pulled down on its own as it would amount to self-censorship.
Google explained that to post advertisements, prospective advertisers (be it political parties or authorised persons) will be required to submit a pre-certificate issued by the Election Commission of India. Additionally, to maintain authenticity, only India nationals will be allowed to run advertisements and the companies will only accept remuneration in the Indian currency to prevent foreign funding.
Similarly, Facebook said that it will personally verify the address of the prospective advertisers. Political advertisements will also prominently display 'who' has paid for it. Moreover, both the companies told the court that they will abide by the local laws governing the elections and pull down advertisement if ordered by any authority, including ECI.
ECI ‘ENCOURAGED’
- Moreover, both tech companies told the court they will abide by local laws governing the elections and pull down advertisements if ordered by any authority, including ECI.
- Advocate Pradeep Rajgopal, for the ECI, told the court that the policies placed on record by the companies are encouraging.
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