NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a press note instructing all political parties to strictly adhere to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and relevant guidelines concerning the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their campaign materials, especially synthetic videos targeting rival parties and candidates. This directive comes following the announcement of the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar and bye-elections for eight Assembly Constituencies, bringing the MCC into immediate effect.
Key Announcements
The ECI emphasized that the MCC now applies to all online and social media content posted by candidates and political parties.
Parties have been warned that criticism of opponents must be limited to policy, program, past record, and work, avoiding any remarks about private lives unrelated to public duties.
Criticisms based on unverified allegations or distortions are strictly prohibited.
Guidelines on AI and Synthetic Content
The Commission has specifically advised against the misuse of AI-driven tools to create deepfakes, misinformation, or distorted content on social media platforms.
All political actors must clearly label AI-generated, digitally enhanced, or synthetic campaign content with prominent notations such as “AI-Generated” or “Synthetic Content”.
Enforcement and Monitoring
A strict watch is being maintained on social media to prevent the vitiation of the election environment, and the Commission has implemented comprehensive measures for the effective enforcement of MCC guidelines.
Any violations will be dealt with strictly by the authorities.
This press note reiterates ECI's commitment to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in the digital era and maintaining a fair campaign environment as the elections approach.
