New Delhi: An Android based application which can secretly be used by a person to send geo-tagged videos and photos of illegal money being distributed or a hate speech being made during polls was launched by the Election Commission on Tuesday.
cVIGIL, the unique Internet-based beta version of the application stands for “citizens’ vigil”. It will be operationalised for the first time when assembly polls in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are held later this year.
The new App will be made available on Google Play Store and will work only during the time the model code of conduct (MCC) is in place in a poll-bound state.
It will “hide the complainant’s phone number and identity so as to encourage information against high and mighty without any risk of subsequent possible backlash,” a senior EC official said here.
“The photos and videos will be automatically tagged by the geographical information system, and hence the surveillance teams will be directed to the correct place of incident where the poll code is being violated,” he added.
Those who do not hide their identity will also get a response from the EC on the action taken after their complaint.
EC is bringing out this tool as there have been instances when vested interests have misled surveillance.
