The Dzongkhag Election Authority in Bumthang has started monitoring social media content of the users in the district extensively since October 6. The authority is especially monitoring numerous local WeChat groups of the two political parties contesting for the general round election.
The move, the authority says is a preventive measure after coming to know about group chats incidences in other districts. So far, there are no such cases reported in the dzongkhag.
Sonam Jamtsho, who is the Social Media Monitor of Bumthang, is tasked with listening and verifying all the voice messages and texts on the group chats.
At present, he’s looking after 15 group chats with more than 2,720 members.He said he is investing a lot of time in listening to all the voice messages.
“I check whether they are saying anything defamatory of the other party, on the foreign policy and security of the country and anything that would create disharmony in the society.”
Before introducing the monitoring system, the authority discussed the new initiative with all coordinators and candidates of the two parties.
The authority only monitors WeChat groups that have the candidates and coordinators in them as members.
“Both the political parties and their candidates and party workers clearly know what is lawful and what’s unlawful, so we need not have to remind them on this,” Pasang Dorji, Bumthang Dzongda, said.
“ In case, if anybody resorts to such unlawful activities, we will immediately remove the person from the group chat and the defaulter will be dealt as per the election rules and regulations ”
