Amid the ongoing Assembly polls in Bengal, purported fake news is getting dispersed in the name of exit poll. It is reported that through unidentified numbers a pre-recorded monologue is played in order to lure the voters and infuse a notion regarding a particular political party.
Initially a phone call is made through a number. While receiving the unknown call, the recipient is left with a audio clip, describing the exit poll numbers and seat sharing percentage of the first phase of election held across 30 constituencies in Bengal.
According to the Election Commission of India guidelines the body has strictly sanctioned a notice on ban of exit polls until April 29 till 7:30 PM. And if any media house is sought propagating exit polls in any medium the ECI can take actions under sect 126. The Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, prohibits displaying any election matter by means, inter alia, of television or similar apparatus, during the period of 48 hours before the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in a constituency.
Earlier this week, digitised pages of exit polls were surfacing on various social media platforms, in which most of them turned out to be fake and provocative. The All India Trinamool Congress even had made objections regarding the exit polls and termed it as a gimmick by the BJP to mislead innocent people. However, no substantial evidence has been placed before the ECI supporting TMC’s allegation against the BJP.
The circulation of fake news in India is increasing at a fast pace and in order to control it, the GoI is formulating stringent cyber rules to avert the rising complaints and issues. An independent study report of 2019 suggests that India alone has witnessed 60 percent penetration of fake news as compared to 57 percent globally.