ECI orders swift removal of unlawful AI election content, enforces strict labelling norms

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has intensified its action against unlawful AI-generated and manipulated election content , strengthening compliance requirements for political stakeholders and digital platforms during ongoing state assembly elections.

The Commission has directed that misleading, unlawful or synthetically generated content must be removed within three hours of reporting , in line with strengthened provisions under the Information Technology (IT) Rules, 2021 . These rules also mandate faster platform accountability, clear labelling of AI-generated material, and enhanced transparency measures.

Political parties, candidates and campaign teams are required to label all AI-generated or digitally altered content as “AI-Generated”, “Digitally Enhanced” or “Synthetic Content” , along with disclosure of its origin to ensure transparency and voter trust .

During elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and West Bengal , the ECI is actively monitoring digital platforms through state IT nodal officers. Content violating the Model Code of Conduct , spreading misinformation, or disrupting law and order is being swiftly identified and acted upon.

Since the announcement of elections on 15 March 2026, more than 11,000 social media posts/URLs have been processed, leading to takedowns, FIRs, clarifications and official rebuttals.

The Commission has also reiterated enforcement of Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 , which prohibits election-related content during the 48-hour silence period before polling concludes across all media platforms.

Through the C-Vigil system on ECINET , over 3,23,099 complaints have been received, with about 96% resolved within 100 minutes , reflecting rapid grievance redressal.

Recent enforcement updates indicate a broader push to counter deepfakes and AI-driven misinformation , with stricter obligations placed on both political actors and digital intermediaries to ensure integrity in the electoral information space.