Election Commission Warns Against AI Misuse in Bihar Assembly Polls

Election Commission Takes Stand Against AI Misuse in Bihar Polls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a stern warning to political parties regarding the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. This move comes as part of the ECI's efforts to maintain the integrity of the electoral process and prevent the spread of misinformation through advanced technologies 1

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Key Directives and Guidelines

The ECI has emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the use of AI-generated content during election campaigns. Political parties, star campaigners, and candidates are now required to prominently label any AI-generated or synthetic content as 'AI-Generated,' 'Digitally Enhanced,' or 'Synthetic Content' 1

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. This directive extends to all forms of campaign material, including social media posts and advertisements.

Election Schedule and Model Code of Conduct

The Bihar Assembly elections are scheduled to take place in two phases:

• Phase I: November 6, 2025 (121 seats)
• Phase II: November 11, 2025 (122 seats)

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into effect on October 6, 2025, and now encompasses digital platforms, including social media 2

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Monitoring and Enforcement

The ECI has announced strict monitoring of social media platforms to ensure compliance with the MCC and prevent the spread of misinformation. Violations of these guidelines may result in penal action 2

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Historical Context and Previous Measures

This is not the first time the ECI has addressed the issue of technology misuse in elections. In May 2024, the Commission urged political parties to use social media platforms responsibly and ethically during the MCC period 2

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Collaboration with Social Media Platforms

To ensure compliance with these directives, social media platforms have collaborated with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) to present a 'Voluntary Code of Ethics' for elections. This code was developed for major platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Google, ShareChat, and TikTok (later banned in India) 2

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Implications for Future Elections

The ECI's stance on AI-generated content and deepfakes sets a precedent for future elections in India and potentially globally. As technology continues to advance, electoral bodies worldwide may need to adapt their guidelines to address the challenges posed by AI and synthetic media in political campaigning.