Lok Sabha Question No. 3734 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-25
Subject: Hate Speech On Social Media
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## L O K    S A B H A UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3734

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 25 th  MARCH, 2022

## HATE SPEECH ON SOCIAL MEDIA

## 3734. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  complaints  received  by  the  Election  Commission against Hate Speeches made on social media platforms over the last five years;
- (b)  whether  the  Election  Commission  has  investigated  the  role  of Cambridge Analytica in India and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  the  Election  Commission  has  ordered  any  investigations into data leaks during elections in view of the complaints received from political parties in the last five years; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a):    The Election Commission of India (ECI) has informed that as a result of their vigorous persuasion, all the major social media platforms under the aegis of  Internet  &  Mobile  Association of India (IAMAI) came together and mutually agreed upon a "Voluntary Code of Ethics" for the General Elections 2019.

The code has been in effect since Lok Sabha Election 2019 and for all Legislative Assembly Elections held after that. The Code has been developed to ensure free, fair & ethical use of social media platforms and to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.  Intermediary platforms have also committed to perform their share of responsibility for voter education and awareness. The ECI,  in  pursuance  of  "Voluntary  code  of  ethics",  has  been  directing  several social media platforms to take down content (links, videos, posts, tweets) found objectionable as per various provisions of MCC, RPA, IPC and other electoral laws  during  elections.  Total  number  of  "Hate  News"  cases  reported  to  social media platforms (since Lok Sabha Elections 2019) is 130, the details are given as under:

## Number of cases reported (received as complaints) by ECI against Hate Speech on Social Media (since 2019)

| SI. No.   | Election                                                                                   | Total no. of cases   |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|
| 1.        | Lok Sabha election-2019                                                                    | 58                   |
| 2.        | Maharashtra and Haryana- Legislative Assembly Election-2019                                | 01                   |
| 3.        | Jharkhand- Legislative Assembly Election-2019                                              | Nil                  |
| 4.        | NCT of Delhi- Legislative Assembly Elections-2020                                          | 34                   |
| 5.        | Bihar- Legislative Assembly Elections-2020                                                 | Nil                  |
| 6.        | Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry- Legislative Assembly Elections-2021 | 29                   |
| 7.        | Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh- Legislative Assembly Elections-2022   | 08                   |
| Total     | Total                                                                                      | 130                  |

- (b):  No Sir.

(c):  Does not arise.

- (d):  Does not arise.

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