Recommendation to take action against those spreading false information
What you should know
The Election Commission has sought clarification from 21 individuals and organizations for violating the election code of conduct.
In a regular press conference organized by the Commission on Sunday, spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai informed that clarifications have been sought from the concerned individuals and organizations in 21 of the complaints filed with the Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee. He informed that replies have been received from 12 of the 21 for which clarifications were sought.
The Commission has formed a task force to study and analyze incidents of code of conduct violations. The task force will decide whether or not to take action against those who have responded to the clarifications sought and recommend them to the Central Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee, he said. If it is confirmed that the code of conduct has been intentionally violated, the Commission will take action, he said.
He informed that monitoring arrangements have also been made at the district level for the implementation of the code of conduct. According to him, the head of the Treasury and Accounts Control Office of the concerned district has been given the responsibility of the District Code of Conduct Monitoring Officer for monitoring the financial aspects and the Assistant Chief District Officer for monitoring other issues.
Recommendation to take action against those spreading false information
The Election Commission has recommended to identify and take action against those spreading false information through digital media. The Election Commission's Election Information Communication and Coordination Center (EIDC) has identified those spreading false information, said Bhattarai, spokesperson of the commission. He said that harmful information such as misinformation, false information and hate speech are spreading. According to him, 120 materials spreading harmful information have been sent to the Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police for action under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2063. Similarly, 6 materials have been sent to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority under the Telecommunications Authority Act, 2052, 15 to the Press Council Nepal under the Press Council Act, 2048, and 34 materials related to violations of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, he informed.
He also informed that 1,677 questions have been received in the commission's call center so far. Of these, 906 are related to the voter list. He said that 135 are related to the code of conduct, 61 are related to voter education and 575 are related to other subjects.
