As campaigns go digital, election integrity at stake

Duringthe2022nationalelections,inabidtocontrolmisinformation,disinformationandhatespeechonsocialmedia,theElectionCommissionhadannouncedplanstocoordinatewithtechcompanieslikeMeta(whichoperatesFacebookandInstagram),X,andChinesefirmByteDance,theparentcompanyofthevideo-sharingappTikTok. NarayanPrasadBhatta,spokespersonforthecommission,saidthistimetheyaretakinganewapproachtocurbthespreadofmisleadinginformationaheadoftheMarch5elections. TheElectionInformation,DisseminationandCoordinationCentre(EIDC)hasbeensetupunderthecommissiontomakeelectionsmoresystematicandtechnology-driven.WithintheEIDC,theInformationIntegrityPromotionCentre(IIPC)workstodiscouragethespreadofmisinformationandmisleadingcontent.Representativesfromvariousgovernmentagenciesareinvolvedinthismechanism. “Thesebodiesanalyseharmfulandtoxiccontentandrecommendactiontorelevantregulatoryauthorities,”BhattatoldthePost.“ThisalsoinvolvescooperationwithplatformssuchasMetaandTikTok.