India's Election Commission Cracks Down on AI-Generated Content in Elections

Strategic Insights -

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a national advisory on the responsible use of synthetically generated information and AI-generated content during elections, following concerns over violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and other legal provisions by political parties and their representatives on social media. The advisory directs parties to promptly remove AI-powered audio/video or misinformation within three hours of being notified and to clearly label synthetic content with a legible label, such as 'AI-Generated', 'Digitally Enhanced', or 'Synthetic Content', covering at least 10% of the visible display area.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ECI advisory comes two weeks before the Bihar assembly elections, highlighting the commission's efforts to safeguard the integrity of the election.
  • The advisory directs parties to remove AI-powered audio/video or misinformation within three hours of being notified, and to clearly label synthetic content with a legible label.
  • The crime cell, Economic Offences Unit, and media monitoring cell of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar are working together to monitor and enforce the advisory.
  • Parties have become more vigilant, with a number of reports being dealt with promptly, according to an official spokesperson of the CEO of Bihar.
  • The three-hour rule for content removal can effectively solve the problem, but it also requires prompt efforts from the parties, according to Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, national spokesperson of Janta Dal (United).
  • Among the first cases, a Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) candidate lodged a complaint about an AI-generated video on social media, which was successfully removed within three hours, and an FIR was later filed against the perpetrator.

Statistics:

  • Estimated $50 million spent by political parties in India on authorised AI-generated content for targeted communication with their constituencies in the 2024 general elections (Source: 2024 report in PBS).
  • Diverse countries, such as India, India, Indonesia, and Mexico, relied on AI to create content designed to misguide voters, defame candidates, or prop up unrealistic images of political parties (Source: August 2025 report in CIGI).
  • Over 100 languages used to translate campaign speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Source: August 2025 report in CIGI).

Sources:

  • Hindustan Times, "India, Oct. 27: ..."
  • PBS, 2024
  • Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), August 2025