Mid-Day ‘s Erroneous Report on EVM s and the Subsequent Clarification

On June 16, Mid-Day published a sensational report claiming that a relative of newly elected Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Waikar used a mobile phone to generate an OTP that allegedly unlocked Electronic Voting Machines (EVM s) and the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) at the NESCO Centre during the counting of votes on June 4. The report implied that this unauthorized action might have influenced the election results, suggesting that Shiv Sena’s victory was aided by this tampering.

The report caused an uproar, with political figures, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, using it to renew attacks on the integrity of EVMs. Social media saw a resurgence of debates and accusations about the security and reliability of the EVMs used in India’s electoral process.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) swiftly issued a statement debunking Mid-Day’s claims. The ECI clarified that EVMs are standalone devices not connected to any network, making remote unlocking via OTPs impossible. The entire process, from sealing EVMs after voting to their unsealing during counting, involves strict physical checks and is monitored by polling agents and officials. Thus, the claim that an EVM could be unlocked using a mobile phone was baseless and misleading.

Mid-Day’s Clarification

On June 17, Mid-Day published a clarification on the front page of their newspaper, admitting that their report was incorrect. The clarification stated, “The report ‘Waikar’s kin had a phone that unlocks EVM’ (pages 6, June 16) inadvertently erroneously mentioned that the accused person used his mobile phone to generate an OTP to unlock EVMs. The error is regretted.”

However, this clarification raised several questions about the journalistic ethics of the publication. The correction was placed in a small portion on the front page, next to a large report on Bollywood actor Salman Khan, which likely overshadowed it. This disparity in coverage, despite being on the front page, could easily lead to the clarification being missed by readers. Additionally, the original erroneous report had been prominently highlighted on the sixth page, making its impact more significant.

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Concerns About Journalistic Ethics

Several issues arise from Mid-Day’s handling of the situation:

1. Prominence of Clarification: The clarification was not given the same prominence as the original report, potentially reducing its visibility to readers who had seen the initial sensational claim.
2. Social Media Inaction: Mid-Day did not issue a clarification on their social media channels where the original report may have also circulated. Furthermore, the author of the report, Shirish Vaktania, did not personally apologize or acknowledge the mistake on his social media accounts. His last interaction regarding the topic was a repost of the erroneous report.
3. Response to Official Notice: The clarification only came after the ECI issued a notice to the publication, raising questions about the publication’s commitment to rectifying mistakes proactively rather than reactively under pressure from authoritative bodies.

Implications of the Fake News

The spread of misinformation about EVMs has significant implications. Such reports can undermine public confidence in the electoral process and the integrity of democratic institutions. Given the sensitivity of election-related matters, media outlets have a responsibility to verify information thoroughly before publication. The erroneous report by Mid-Day highlights the potential damage caused by neglecting this responsibility.

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Mid-Day’s erroneous report on EVMs being unlocked by OTP was a grave journalistic error that had far-reaching consequences. Although the newspaper issued a clarification, the manner in which it was handled raises critical questions about journalistic standards and ethics. Ensuring accurate reporting, especially on sensitive issues like elections, is crucial for maintaining public trust in media and democratic processes. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible journalism and the need for rigorous fact-checking before publishing sensational claims.