Now, Election Commission will also watch social media

The Election Commission today announced that the model code of conduct which ensures free and fair elections on the ground should also apply to the social media. With political parties now spending huge amounts to campaign and gain support on the growing online space, many argue it's about time that the influence of social media be recognised and consequently monitored. But will this end up impinging on the free speech of netizens? Should the poll panel first come on social media? And has it ended up missing a huge opportunity to engage with the online space and may well have ended up scaring people away? We discuss.