TLDR: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a stringent advisory to all political parties, candidates, and campaigners, making it mandatory to clearly label any AI-generated or synthetically altered content used in election campaigns. This directive, aimed at combating the spread of deepfakes and misinformation, requires explicit disclosures such as “AI-Generated” and mandates swift removal of misleading content, particularly ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections in November 2025.
New Delhi, October 24, 2025 – In a significant move to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) today issued a stern advisory to all national and state-recognized political parties, candidates, and campaign representatives regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated content and deepfakes in election campaigning. The directive comes amidst growing concerns over the potential for hyper-realistic synthetic media to distort information, mislead voters, and undermine the fairness of elections, especially with the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for November 6 and 11, 2025, with results on November 14.
The ECI emphasized that the misuse of AI-based tools to create deepfakes that distort information or propagate misinformation on social media platforms poses a “deep threat” to democracy. Such content, the Commission noted, has the potential to “masquerade as the truth,” misguide voters, and trap political stakeholders into false conclusions, thereby “contaminating the level-playing field in the electoral arena.”
To promote transparency and accountability, the advisory mandates explicit labeling for all AI-generated or synthetically altered content, including images, audio, and videos. Political entities are now required to prominently display clear notations such as “AI-Generated,” “Digitally Enhanced,” or “Synthetic Content” on all shared materials, whether on social media or in advertisements. For visual content, the label must cover at least 10% of the visible display area; for audio, it must be announced during the initial 10% duration; and for video, it must appear prominently at the top of the screen.
Furthermore, the ECI has directed that any violations, particularly content unlawfully misrepresenting a person’s identity, appearance, or voice in a misleading way, must be removed within three hours of notification. Political parties are also required to maintain internal records of all AI-generated campaign material for verification purposes. The Commission reminded parties of their obligations under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and invoked its plenary powers under Article 324 of the Constitution to enforce these guidelines.
Also Read:
- YouTube Introduces AI-Powered Likeness Protection for Creators to Combat Deepfakes
- India Prepares for ESTIC 2025: AI for Social Impact to Drive Inclusive Growth
This advisory builds upon earlier measures taken by the ECI, including directives issued in 2024 and January 2025, highlighting the Commission’s ongoing commitment to curbing the misuse of emerging technologies in political discourse. The ECI stressed that upholding the integrity of the electoral process and preserving voter trust are paramount, urging all political participants to ensure that technology is not misused to influence voters or spread misinformation.
