On 19 April 2026, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has circulated instructions reiterating that all stakeholders must ensure responsible and ethical use of social media and digital platforms during the ongoing General Elections and bye-elections.
Key takeaways:
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The Election Commission stressed strict compliance under the provisions of:
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The ECI has instructed social media platforms to take action on misleading, unlawful, or AI-generated/manipulated content within three hours of it being reported, to curb misinformation and protect the election process.
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Political parties, candidates, and campaigners have been directed to use emerging technologies responsibly and transparently.
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All AI-generated or digitally altered campaign material must carry clear labels such as ‘AI-Generated,’ ‘Digitally Enhanced,’ or ‘Synthetic Content,’ along with details of its source, to ensure voter awareness.
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During the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and West Bengal, social media content violating the MCC, affecting law and order, or spreading false information about elections is being closely monitored and acted upon by State IT Nodal Officers.
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Since the election announcement on 15 March 2026, more than 11,000 social media posts and URLs have been acted upon through removals, FIRs, clarifications, and rebuttals.
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The Commission reaffirmed Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which bars election-related content in polling areas during the 48-hour silence period, and directed all media platforms to strictly comply.
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MCC violations can be reported through the C-Vigil module on ECINET, through which 3,23,099 complaints were lodged between 15 March and 19 April 2026, with 96.01% resolved within the stipulated 100-minute timeframe.
Also Read: ECI streamlines Tech-Driven System for Index Cards and Statistical Reports Post-Elections
