WhatsApp, BBM poke holes into EC diktat on hate speech

Lucknow: Officials at the Election Commission were surprised as they discovered that they have no clue as to how to prevent hate speeches and inflammatory videos from being shared through applications like WhatsApp and on BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). Despite the strict code of conduct on use and misuse of social media during the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission (EC) is now faced with an unprecedented situation. This, officials say, is because the poll panel has not found ways to stop and prevent hate speeches, promotional campaigns or inflammatory videos from finding its way into public discourse through applications like WhatsApp and on BBM.[caption id=“attachment_1446785” align=“alignnone” width=“300”]  Surprise in store for EC officials. Getty Images[/caption] Senior poll panel officials confirmed the threat this poses to peaceful conduct and level playing field to all political players. They say they are in talks with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other security agencies to “figure out on what can be done best and swiftly”. “This is a situation we have at hand and we are trying to deal with it,” confided a senior election commission official. He, however, added that the commission is working to find a solution. IANS