The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued an advisory to political parties, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) during political campaigns. This initiative comes in response to rising concerns about AI's potential impact on voter perception and trust in the electoral process.

 

The advisory mandates that political parties clearly label any AI-generated or significantly altered content, including images, videos, and audio, with tags such as "AI-Generated," "Digitally Enhanced," or "Synthetic Content." Furthermore, it requires disclaimers to be included in campaign advertisements and promotional materials that utilize synthetic content.

 

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar highlighted the risks associated with deep fakes and misinformation, stating that they could undermine public trust in electoral systems. He has consistently warned against the misuse of AI technologies and stressed the importance of vigilance.

 

This advisory builds upon the ECI's previous efforts to promote ethical practices in social media and technology use during elections. In prior elections, guidelines were established to ensure responsible engagement with these platforms.