ECI Directs X To Remove Select Posts Of YSR Congress, AAP, Others

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) directed the social media platform X to remove select posts of YSR Congress, AAP, N Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary for violation of model code of conduct.

According to the micro-blogging site, the ECI orders were issued on April 2 and April 3. In a follow up mail on April 10, the ECI cited a violation of the “voluntary code of ethics” if ‘X’ fails to remove the four posts reported to it.

“In compliance with the orders, we have withheld these posts for the remainder of the election period. However, we disagree with these actions and maintain that freedom of expression should extend to these posts and political speech in general,” said the X authorities.

“We have notified the affected users and in the interest of transparency, we are publishing the take down orders here. We call on the Election Commission to publish all of its take down orders going forward,” it added.

The ECI found that the objectionable posts were in violation of the model code of conduct that bars criticising political parties based on any aspects of the private life of leaders or workers of other parties that are not connected with public activities or based on unverified allegations or distorted facts.