Political content on social media, blogs needs no pre-certification: EC

Kolkata, April 11 (IANS) With the Election Commission deciding not to consider political contents posted by individuals, candidates and political party workers on web and the social media as political advertisements, no pre-certification would be needed for such comments, the poll panel said Friday.

Such content included posting of photos, comments or videos on blogs or websites and the social media.

Any political content in the form of messages, comments, photos, videos on blogs, social media would not be treated as political advertisement, the Election Commission said on Friday.

"No pre-certification for such content will not be required," said OSD Amit Roy Chowdhury in the office of the West Bengal's chief electoral officer.

Acknowledging the reach and impact of the social media, the poll panel had earlier included social media in its monitoring of expenditure by political parties in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls.