CNE issued 14 recommendations when using social networks during the election campaign

Domingo Paredes: “We want the elections on February 17, 2013 to be the most transparent and inclusive in the history of Ecuador.”

The recommendations were presented yesterday at the Matilde Hidalgo de Procel auditorium, during the program “Transparent Vote” in social networks and digital media, carried out by the National Electoral Council (CNE for its Spanish acronym) in order to address political debates.

“We want the elections on February 17, 2013 to be the most transparent and inclusive in the history of Ecuador. Modern technologies are one way to achieve it,” said the president of the CNE, Domingo Paredes.

Paredes said that his 14 rules do not seek to control the opinion in social networks, but to help promoting respect for the candidates and their supporters in election times.

CNE standards for electronic discussion:

1. Never forget that the person reading the message is a human being with feelings that can be hurt.
2. Behave online the same way you do in real life.
3. Help to keep the discussions in a healthy and educational way.
4. Share your knowledge with the community.
5. Be friendly, courteous, polite, patient and respectful in your opinions or interests. It should be a rule of life.
6. Respect the privacy of others, to make a group against a person is wrong.
7. Respect the time and bandwidth of others.
8. Show your good side, while online, do not  gossip, lie or be intolerant.
9. Writing all caps is considered shouting.
10. Respect the opinions of others, not everything is an insult, your answers must be written in a courteous language, tell the truth.
11. Be objective on topics of particular interest which does not affect the public interest.
12. Respect religious beliefs, sexual, ideological and political preferences.
13. Be respectful with people who think different from you.
14. Do not use derogatory and hurtful words, do not violate the integrity of individuals.