With local body election campaigning heating up across Kerala, State Election Commissioner A. Shajahan has ordered an unprecedented crackdown on social media misuse, directing the Cyber Police to intensify monitoring of reels, videos, and WhatsApp group content shared by candidates and political parties.
The Commissioner has instructed that parody songs, voice clips, edited videos, animations, and image cards circulating in local WhatsApp groups be closely watched, as these often become hotspots for misinformation during elections. Any post that references caste, religion, or personal details of individuals will be treated as a serious violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Shajahan warned that strict action will follow if any content—whether false, defamatory, misleading, or prohibited—is detected or reported. The crackdown extends to the use of AI-generated deepfakes, voice-modified clips, and fabricated visuals, which he said pose a major threat to fair campaigning. The Commission will enforce all relevant laws, including the IT Act 2000, IT Rules 2021, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, and election conduct guidelines.
Political parties have been told that any fake or misleading posts on their official social media accounts must be removed within three hours, and those responsible will be issued warnings. Fake accounts and unlawful content must be reported immediately to platform authorities.
Emphasising the need for fairness and credibility, the Commissioner urged all candidates and political groups to ensure elections are conducted without the misuse of technology, calling for full cooperation to maintain clean and transparent campaigning.
