New Delhi: Paid news – political advertisements disguised as journalism – should be an offence, the Election Commission said on Wednesday. “There is no law explaining paid news as an offence. We have made a proposal to the law ministry to make it an electoral offence,” said Chief Election Commissioner V Sampath.
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“A fair election is about ensuring a level playing field and keeping out undue influence,” he wrote. The Election Commission estimates the paid news market around Rs. 500 crore.