Election Commission Advises Parties on Ethical AI Use in Campaigns
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Synopsis
The Election Commission of India has issued a vital advisory urging political parties to responsibly and transparently use AI-generated content during election campaigns, particularly ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.
Key Takeaways
- ECI advises responsible AI use in campaigns.
- Label AI-generated content clearly.
- Avoid misinformation in campaign materials.
- Disclaimers required for synthetic content.
- Aim to maintain a level playing field.
New Delhi, Jan 16 (NationPress) The Election Commission of India (ECI) released an advisory on Thursday, calling on political parties to engage in responsible and transparent utilization of content generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) during their campaign efforts. This advisory comes just ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, set for February 5. Its purpose is not only to mitigate the risk of misuse of AI-generated content as elections approach but also to guarantee that parties maintain adherence to the ethical use of social media in enhancing their campaigns.
The poll panel emphasized that political parties and their representatives should avoid employing any AI-generated, distorted, or manipulated content that could disseminate misinformation and disinformation throughout their campaigns.
This advisory follows a recent action by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which filed complaints against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regarding the misuse of altered content featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah.
In the advisory, the EC instructed political parties, along with their leaders and prominent campaigners, to clearly label any campaign materials that have been created or modified using AI or other synthesized, digital methods.
According to the EC's advisory, clear and easily identifiable labeling of AI-generated content is essential for ensuring a responsible and transparent campaigning process, allowing voters to be well-informed.
The advisory specified that all images, videos, audio, or any other materials that are AI-generated or significantly altered should be labeled appropriately, using terms like “AI-generated,” “Digitally Enhanced,” or “Synthetic Content.”
Moreover, the EC directed political parties to include disclaimers in their campaign advertisements and promotional materials when utilizing synthetic content, both online and offline.
The guidelines aim to prevent any disruption of the level playing field among political parties and their representatives by prohibiting the use of ‘deep fakes,’ AI-generated distorted content, and ensuring strict avoidance of any improper use of such materials during the General Elections’ model code of conduct,” stated the EC in an official announcement.
