Election Commission Warns Against AI Misuse in Upcoming Polls: What You Need to Know

ECI Issues Warning on AI Content Ahead of Elections

New Delhi: As the Assembly elections approach in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a warning to candidates and political parties regarding the potential misuse of AI-generated or altered content. Since March 15, over 11,000 unauthorized social media posts have been taken down.

The ECI emphasized that all involved parties must utilize social media and digital platforms responsibly, adhering to existing legal frameworks, including the Information Technology Act of 2000, IT Rules of 2021, and the Model Code of Conduct.

Political entities, candidates, and their campaign teams are mandated to label any AI-generated or digitally modified content as 'AI-Generated', 'Digitally Enhanced', or 'Synthetic Content', along with disclosing the source to ensure transparency and maintain voter confidence.

The Commission noted that social media posts violating the Model Code of Conduct, those that could disrupt public order, or spread false narratives about the electoral process are under surveillance by designated State IT Nodal Officers as per the IT Act.

The ECI has instructed that any misleading or unlawful AI-generated content must be addressed within three hours of being reported to social media platforms.

Since the election announcement on March 15, more than 11,000 social media posts and URLs have been flagged and dealt with, including removals, FIRs, and clarifications during the election period.

Additionally, the ECI reiterated the restrictions under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which prohibits the display of election-related materials in polling areas during the 48-hour silence period leading up to the election.

Media platforms, including television, radio, print, and social media, are also required to comply with these regulations.

The ECI has made it possible for citizens, political parties, and candidates to report Model Code of Conduct violations through the C-Vigil Module on ECINET.

From March 15 to April 19, a total of 323,099 complaints were filed using the C-Vigil App during these elections, with 310,393 complaints, or 96.01%, resolved within the designated timeframe of 100 minutes.

Polling took place in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry on April 9, while West Bengal will conduct voting in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Tamil Nadu will have a single-phase election on April 23, with vote counting for all four states and the union territory scheduled for May 4.