September 05, Colombo (LNW): As the 21st September Presidential Election approaches, social media has emerged as a dominant tool for campaigning and criticising candidates.
In response, the Sri Lankan Police Headquarters has instructed all stations to follow new guidelines for managing election-related complaints and content on digital platforms, aiming to curb illegal activities and maintain order during the election period.
A recent circular issued by the Police Headquarters outlines specific procedures to address online election propaganda violations.
The guidelines emphasise cooperation between local police stations and the Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) Computer Crimes Investigations Division, as well as the divisional Police Technology Divisions.
This strategy aims to ensure that any harmful or unlawful content circulating on social media platforms is promptly addressed.
The authorities will focus on removing problematic posts, investigating violations, and taking legal action where necessary.
A senior police officer involved in the operations stated that these guidelines provide a structured approach to combat the spread of prohibited election content online.
He noted that the efforts would include identifying those responsible for such violations. The officer also explained that stations across the island have been briefed on how to respond to complaints about social media issues during the election.
Post removals, investigations into illegal propaganda, and legal action against offenders are key components of this operation.
Top officials from the Police Legal Division, the CID’s Digital Forensics Unit, the IT Division, and the Computer Crimes Investigation Division are playing a pivotal role in overseeing these efforts.
Whilst the police are actively monitoring online spaces, their current priority is responding to complaints, largely due to limited resources and the sheer volume of content being generated during the election cycle.
Numerous complaints related to threats and defamatory remarks against presidential candidates are already under investigation. However, authorities have acknowledged the difficulties posed by the global nature of social media platforms, many of which are headquartered abroad.
This, coupled with outdated legal frameworks, has hindered the speed of investigations. The delay in passing the Online Safety Bill has further compounded these challenges, leaving authorities reliant on existing legislation such as the Computer Crimes Act to address violations.
