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POLICY 8: POLITICAL ADVERTISING & SPONSORED CONTENT POLICY
POLICY 8: POLITICAL ADVERTISING & SPONSORED CONTENT POLICY
Compliance Version
8.1 Purpose
8.1.1 This Policy governs political advertising and sponsored political communication on CRU.
8.1.2 CRU permits political discussion and paid political advertisements subject to strict compliance with applicable Indian law, including:
• (a) Representation of the People Act, 1951
• (b) Information Technology Act, 2000
• (c) Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
8.1.3 CRU operates as a neutral intermediary and does not endorse any political ideology.
8.2 Definition of Political Advertisement
8.2.1 A "Political Advertisement" includes any paid content that:
• (a) Promotes or opposes a political party
• (b) Promotes or opposes a political candidate
• (c) Advocates public policy positions
• (d) Seeks to influence electoral outcomes
• (e) Encourages voting behavior
8.2.2 Unpaid political discussion by users is not classified as advertising unless compensation is involved.
8.3 Mandatory Disclosure Requirements
8.3.1 All paid political advertisements must:
• (a) Clearly label Content as "Sponsored Political Advertisement" or equivalent disclosure
• (b) Disclose the full legal name of the sponsor (individual, entity, or organization)
• (c) Provide sponsor contact details
• (d) Confirm lawful authorization and compliance with applicable law
• (e) Confirm domestic funding source (no foreign funding)
8.3.2 Anonymous political advertisements are strictly prohibited.
8.4 Advertiser Verification
8.4.1 Before accepting political advertisements, CRU may require:
• (a) Government-issued identity proof
• (b) Business registration documentation (if applicable)
• (c) Declaration of compliance with Indian election laws
• (d) Confirmation of domestic funding source
8.4.2 CRU reserves the right to reject advertisements without explanation.
8.5 Prohibited Political Advertising Content
8.5.1 Political advertisements may not:
• (a) Contain false statements presented as facts
• (b) Misrepresent election procedures
• (c) Promote voter suppression
• (d) Impersonate public authorities
• (e) Promote violence or unrest
• (f) Contain foreign political funding promotion
8.5.2 Advertisements violating law will be rejected or removed.
8.6 Foreign Influence Restrictions
8.6.1 CRU does not permit:
• (a) Foreign entities to run Indian political ads
• (b) Undisclosed international funding of political campaigns
• (c) Political messaging that violates Indian sovereignty laws
8.6.2 Where applicable, advertiser nationality verification may be required.
8.7 AI & Moderation Oversight
8.7.1 Political advertisements may be subject to:
• (a) AI screening
• (b) Manual review
• (c) Legal review (where necessary)
8.7.2 CRU reserves the right to:
• (a) Restrict distribution
• (b) Remove advertisements
• (c) Suspend advertiser accounts
8.8 Record Retention
8.8.1 CRU maintains internal records of:
• (a) Political advertisements
• (b) Sponsor identity
• (c) Ad duration
• (d) Targeting parameters
• (e) Payment records
8.8.2 Records may be retained for regulatory compliance and audit purposes.
8.9 Targeting Restrictions
8.9.1 CRU does not permit:
• (a) Targeted political advertising based on sensitive personal data
• (b) Micro-targeting using inferred political beliefs
• (c) Targeting individuals under 18 years of age
8.9.2 Political ad targeting may be limited to broad demographic categories where applicable.
8.10 Platform Neutrality
8.10.1 CRU:
• (a) Does not endorse any candidate or party
• (b) Does not guarantee equal reach to all advertisers
• (c) Does not provide preferential algorithmic promotion
8.10.2 Advertisement visibility may depend on platform policies and moderation standards.
8.11 Election Period Safeguards
8.11.1 During official election periods, CRU may:
• (a) Implement additional review procedures
• (b) Temporarily restrict political ad categories
• (c) Increase monitoring for misinformation
• (d) Cooperate with lawful directives from competent authorities
8.12 Disclaimer of Liability
8.12.1 CRU acts as an intermediary platform.
8.12.2 The Company is not responsible for:
• (a) Accuracy of advertiser claims
• (b) Political positions expressed in advertisements
• (c) Electoral outcomes influenced by advertisements
8.12.3 Advertisers are solely responsible for compliance with applicable law.
8.13 Violations & Enforcement
8.13.1 Violation of this Policy may result in:
• (a) Immediate ad removal
• (b) Account suspension
• (c) Permanent ban
• (d) Reporting to lawful authorities where required
8.14 Policy Updates
8.14.1 This Policy may be updated periodically to comply with evolving legal and regulatory requirements.
8.14.2 Continued use of CRU constitutes acceptance of updated terms.