ECI Warns Political Parties Against AI Deepfakes Ahead of Bihar Polls, Urges Transparency Online

New Delhi: In a proactive move ahead of Bihar’s upcoming Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued a stern advisory to political parties against the misuse of AI-based tools to produce deepfakes that spread misinformation on social media.

With the announcement of the General Election to the Bihar Legislative Assembly and bye-elections in eight constituencies on October 6, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has officially come into effect. The ECI clarified that these rules apply to all digital content shared by candidates and parties, including posts on social media platforms.

The poll body emphasized adherence to the MCC and other guidelines regarding AI-generated content targeting rival parties or candidates. “As per the provisions of MCC, criticism of other parties shall be limited to their policies, programmes, past record, and work. Parties and candidates must refrain from commenting on private matters unrelated to public activities. Criticism based on unverified allegations or distortions should be avoided,” the ECI stated.

The Commission further urged parties to maintain electoral integrity, stating, “The use of AI tools to create deepfakes or spread misleading content is strictly discouraged. All political parties, leaders, candidates, and star campaigners must clearly label any AI-generated or synthetic content shared during campaigns. Labels such as ‘AI-Generated’, ‘Digitally Enhanced’, or ‘Synthetic Content’ should be prominently displayed.”