Tasnim – An Iranian judicial body devised new regulations on the use of Telegram, the most widely used mobile messaging application in Iran, in political campaign activities for the May 19 presidential election.

The Committee for Determining Instances of Criminal Content (CDICC), a group working under the supervision of Iran’s Attorney General, has introduced regulations on the appropriate use of Telegram ahead of the presidential election, a member of the committee told Tasnim.

Ramezan Ali Sobhanifar said individuals and groups using the popular mobile messaging app will have to comply with the election campaigning rules, stressing that any “offense or defamation” in the Telegram channels will be tracked and prosecuted.

People will face prosecution for insulting the candidates, he warned.

Iran is going to hold the 12th presidential election on May 19.

The number of eligible voters in the upcoming election is estimated to be around 1.5 million higher than the 50.5 million in the previous round four years ago.