THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Kaul said that strict action will be taken against those who spread fake news related to elections on social media. There are Media monitoring cells at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer and at the district level to constantly monitor social, visual, audio and print media. The police is also monitoring this. Legal action will be taken if fake news, unethical news and paid news are found.

Audio-visual advertisements used by parties and candidates for campaigning must be approved by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee. Action will be taken against the unauthorized dissemination of advertisements. Advertisements for circulation in the constituencies by the candidates require the approval of the District Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee under the Collector.

The approval of the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee in the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer is also required for audio-visual advertisements broadcast at the state level. Sanjay Kaul informed that the media certification committee's approval is also required for advertisements in print media immediately before the polling day by parties and candidates.

2122 cameras for live surveillance

Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Kaul informed that live monitoring is being done using 2122 cameras across the state in connection with the Lok Sabha elections. The footage is constantly being monitored in the control rooms set up in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer and the districts. The footage is also being monitored in the control rooms set up under the ROs of 20 Lok Sabha constituencies. 391 cameras have been installed in training centres for election officials. A real-time monitoring system has also been set up in the centres where postal voting facility is provided. Cameras will be installed at polling material distribution centres and booths on polling day for real-time monitoring. There will be similar surveillance in strong rooms and counting centres.