ECI opens global meet on poll misinformation, AI deepfakes in New Delhi
Synopsis
India is using its 2026 International IDEA chairship to lead a global conversation on the biggest threat to modern elections — AI deepfakes, synthetic media, and opaque digital ads. The ECI's two-day Delhi conference, with 480-plus practitioners, signals a shift from reactive fact-checks to building a structured global playbook on media in electoral processes.
Key Takeaways
The ECI inaugurated a two-day global conference at IIIDEM, New Delhi on 3 June .
More than 480 participants , including DEOs, EROs, and academics, are attending.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar highlighted record turnout in recent Assembly elections as a marker of voter confidence.
Key themes: misinformation, AI deepfakes, synthetic media, and opaque digital political ads.
Outcomes will feed into a thematic report under the Delhi Declaration adopted in January.
Event held under India's 2026 chairship of International IDEA .
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday, 3 June, inaugurated a two-day international conference on ‘Global Best Practices and Innovations for Media in Electoral Processes and Campaigns' at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi. The deliberations, drawing more than 480 participants, are centred on combating misinformation, AI-generated deepfakes, and opaque digital political advertising in elections.
Who is attending
The conference has convened election administrators, academics, researchers, and media experts from across the world. Indian participants include District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), thematic experts, research scholars, and members of Electoral Literacy Clubs.
What the CEC said
Addressing the gathering, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the ECI has been deepening voter engagement through extensive training programmes for grassroots functionaries, including Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Booth Level Agents (BLAs). He noted that voter confidence in the electoral process was reflected in the record turnout during the recently concluded Assembly elections.
Key themes on the table
Sessions are focused on the pressing concerns confronting electoral democracies globally — the spread of misinformation and disinformation, the rising threat of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes and synthetic media, non-transparent digital political advertising, and the accountability of online platforms during campaigns.
The conference aims to build practitioner-oriented global knowledge resources by documenting international experiences, model standards, and best practices in election management. Recommendations from the event are expected to feed into a thematic report envisioned under the Delhi Declaration, adopted at the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management in January this year.
The wider context
The event is being organised by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, in collaboration with IIIDEM and Delhi Technological University (DTU). It is being held under India's 2026 chairship of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) — a platform India is using to position itself as a thought leader on democratic resilience in the age of synthetic media.
What's next
The conference concludes on Thursday, with outcomes expected to shape a structured global framework for media engagement in elections. The ECI is likely to incorporate select recommendations into its own evolving protocols on countering deepfakes and digital disinformation ahead of upcoming state polls.
Point of View
But the harder test is enforcement: India still lacks a binding regulatory framework on deepfakes, and platform accountability remains voluntary. India's 2026 International IDEA chairship gives it diplomatic leverage to push a model code, but unless the Delhi Declaration translates into hard rules at home, the gap between convening power and on-ground deterrence will widen.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ECI global conference in New Delhi about?
It is a two-day international conference on ‘Global Best Practices and Innovations for Media in Electoral Processes and Campaigns', inaugurated on 3 June 2025 at IIIDEM, New Delhi. It focuses on misinformation, AI deepfakes, synthetic media, and digital political advertising in elections.
Who is attending the IIIDEM conference?
Over 480 participants are attending, including election administrators, District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, academics, researchers, media experts, and members of Electoral Literacy Clubs from India and abroad.
Why is this conference significant for India?
It is being held under India's 2026 chairship of International IDEA, positioning India as a global voice on electoral integrity. The outcomes will feed a thematic report under the Delhi Declaration adopted in January this year.
What did CEC Gyanesh Kumar say at the event?
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the ECI has been strengthening voter engagement through extensive training of grassroots functionaries like BLOs and BLAs. He cited record participation in recent Assembly elections as evidence of voter confidence in the process.
How is the ECI tackling AI deepfakes in elections?
The ECI is using the conference to document global best practices on countering AI-generated deepfakes, synthetic media, and non-transparent digital ads. Recommendations are expected to inform future ECI protocols, though a binding regulatory framework is yet to be announced.
