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New Delhi: As the electoral fervour grips several Indian states, with Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and West Bengal heading to the polls, the battle for hearts and minds is raging not just on the ground but intensely across social media platforms. In response to this digital dynamic, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has declared a firm stance, rolling out stringent directives aimed at curbing illegal and manipulative content online, particularly focusing on the rising threat of artificial intelligence.

The ECI has unequivocally reiterated its expectation that all stakeholders,  from political parties and candidates to digital platforms themselves,  will ensure the responsible and ethical use of social media. This mandate comes with the clear obligation to comply with existing legal frameworks, including the Information Technology Act of 2000, the IT Rules of 2021, and the established Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

ECI directs social media platforms to act swiftly

A cornerstone of the ECI’s enhanced vigilance is a directive mandating a swift response to digital deception. Any content identified as misleading, unlawful, AI-generated, or otherwise manipulated must be addressed and dealt with by social media platforms within a tight window of three hours from its appearance.

Furthermore, to champion transparency and safeguard voter trust, political parties, candidates, and campaign representatives are now strictly required to disclose the artificial origin and source of any AI-created or modified content used in their campaigning efforts.

Monitoring efforts are already in full swing across the states currently holding legislative assembly elections. The ECI is actively tracking and taking action against social media posts that violate the MCC, possess the potential to disrupt law and order, or spread falsehoods targeting the voting process or machinery.

11,000 such social media posts flagged since March

Since the election announcement on March 15, 2026, over 11,000 such social media posts and URLs have been flagged and subjected to action, ranging from content removal and the filing of First Information Reports (FIRs) to issuing clarifications and denials.

Beyond the immediate digital battlefield, the ECI also emphasised the enduring relevance of Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. This crucial provision strictly prohibits the display of any election material in polling areas during the 48-hour “silence period” immediately preceding the conclusion of the poll. All media platforms, television, radio, print, and crucially, social media, are obligated to adhere to these provisions rigorously.

In a bid to empower citizens and ensure widespread compliance, the ECI has continued to champion its C-Vigil module on ECINET. This robust platform allows citizens, political parties, and candidates to easily report MCC violations. Between March 15 and April 19, a staggering 323,099 complaints were filed through the C-Vigil app for these elections. Remarkably, 310,393 of these complaints (96.01 per cent) were resolved within the stipulated 100-minute timeframe, according to the ECI.