Amid row over fake video, EC warns parties against misuse of AI-based tools
Amid the row over the doctored video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Election Commission of India on Monday issued directions to political parties on responsible and ethical use of social media in the campaign. The poll body asked them to remove fake content within three hours of it coming to their notice.
In an advisory to parties, the EC warned against misuse of AI-based tools to create deepfakes that distort information or propagate misinformation, emphasising the need to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
In the doctored video, Mr. Shah is heard saying the BJP government would scrap quotas for Dalits, tribals and OBCs.
In a statement here, the
EC has emphasised the need to uphold the integrity of the electoral process
EC said it has brought to the notice of political parties, the existing legal provisions that govern the regulatory framework against the use of misinformation and impersonation using deepfakes. This includes the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Indian Penal Code, and framework of the twin acts namely the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and 1951, and the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct.
In view of these existing legal provisions, among other directions, the parties have been specically directed to refrain from publishing and circulating deepfake audios or videos; disseminating any misinformation or information which is patently false, untrue or misleading in nature; posting derogatory content towards women; using children in campaigns; and depicting violence or harm to animals.
The parties have been directed to promptly remove any such content within three hours of bringing it to their notice, warn the person responsible in their party, report unlawful information and fake user accounts to respective platforms, and escalate persistent issues to the Grievance Appellate Committee under Rule 3A of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.