'We Disagree': X After Withholding Some Posts Till Poll Period After ECI Order

x after withholding some posts till poll period after eci order says we disagree aap ysr congress election commission

New Delhi: Social media platform on Tuesday withheld several posts of several political parties and leaders after an order by the Election Commission of India for the remaining election period. The poll body in an email on April 2 and April 3 apprised the micro-blogging platform of four posts by YS Congress, AAP, former Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, and asked it to take then down.

The poll panel found that the objectionable posts were in violation of the model code of conduct that prohibits criticising political parties based on private life of leaders or workers of other parties that are not connected with public activities or based on unverified allegations or distorted facts, reported news agency PTI.

Later, the poll panel sent a follow-up email on April 10, reported PTI. The ECI said in the mail that it would be the a violation of the “voluntary code of ethics” if ‘X’ fails to remove the four posts reported to it.

ALSO READ | PM Modi’s BJP Poised to Make Inroads in Deep South? What Latest ETG Survey Suggests

In response, X withheld the four posts and said that the Election Commission of India has issued takedown orders requiring the microblogging site to act on posts containing political speech shared from elected politicians, political parties and candidates for office.

“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,” the microblogging site said.

It further said that it has notified the affected users in the “interest of transparency” and publishing the takedown orders as well. “We call on the Election Commission to publish all of its takedown orders going forward,” it added.