The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a new app that will help voters check whether any candidate standing for Lok Sabha elections in their constituency has a criminal record. The 'Know Your Candidate' (KYC) is available for download on both Android and iOS platforms.
The details of the app were announced by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Saturday. "We have come up with a new mobile application that will enable voters to find out if a candidate, who is bidding to represent them in the Lok Sabha, has a criminal background. The application is called 'Know Your Candidate' or 'KYC," Kumar said, stressing the importance of learning about the candidate.
"The voters can also now check for themselves the assets and liabilities that candidates with criminal antecedents hold. All relevant information in this regard will be made available on this application," Kumar added.
The CEC also instructed that candidates with a criminal record are required to publish or make public this information in newspapers on television thrice. "The parties giving tickets to such tainted candidates have to explain why they chose them over other, more deserving, claimants. They have to clearly state the basis of selection of a candidate with a criminal background," Kumar said.
'Myth vs Reality' project
The CEC had explained the "two-pronged strategy" the commission would use to deal with misinformation and fake narratives on social media during the Lok Sabha polls. He also announced that the commission will soon launch a "Myth vs Reality" project to clear the air around fake news being spread on social media.
He added that under sections 69 and 79 (3) of the IT Act, authorities in each state are empowered to ask to take down fake social media posts. "Authorised officials have been appointed in all states or are being appointed. In each district, we have done thorough training to deal with this kind of menace. Our entire machinery will now react to whatever is coming by (using) facts. We will join the issue instead of being in the background," Kumar said.
"If someone is trying to set a fake narrative that is disturbing the level-playing field or disrupting the law and order, we will also join them. We will soon launch a 'Myth vs Reality' project to clear the air around fake news spreading on social media," the CEC added.
