UEC works on hate speech prevention

UEC works on hate speech prevention
Published 31 October 2019

 

Union Election Commission (UEC) will carry out preventive programs against the spread of hate speeches and fake news, in the election, said Myint Naing, Spokesperson of the UEC.

But the UEC failed to reveal the plan in detail.

Hla Thein, Chair of the UEC told international diplomats that the UEC was working on the plan to prevent the spread of hate speeches and fake news via social media, in the election.

Ko Sai Ye Kyaw Swa Myint, executive director of PACE said: “The UEC needs to make discussions with social media companies including Facebook and Viber, about the spread of hate speeches and fake news.

The UEC needs to define what kind of undertaking is hate speech and what kind of undertaking is fake news in the code of conduct to be followed by political parties and candidates, more accurately.

The country hardly saw the spreads of hate speeches and fake news in the previous elections in 2015, 2017 and 2018 as the social media was not strong. We need to monitor it as the number of facebook and internet users increases in 2020.

The code of conduct for political parties and candidates, which was drafted in May 2018, says: “Candidates are not allowed to defame and insult other parties during the canvassing campaign. In addition, candidates are not allowed to make accusation against a political party or a candidate and to use the terms that may lead to religious and racial discrimination.

There were no remonstration though there were hate speeches and personal attacks in the previous elections, said UEC Chair Hla Thein, at a workshop in Nay Pyi Taw on May 8.