Shillong, March 20 -- The Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 19, 2019 had in-depth interactive session with representatives of various Social Media platforms and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) on the usage of social media ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2019. Social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, agreed on the next day to process any request from the Election Commission to take down content within three hours during the 48-hour period before the voting days.

The agreement was arrived at during a meeting between the Election Commission and Internet companies as part of a conduct code for the staggered seven phase Lok Sabha elections starting on April 11 and also for the future. This agreem...