New Delhi, April 19: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a strong directive to curb the spread of unlawful and misleading content on social media during the ongoing 2026 general and by-elections, warning of swift action against violations.
In a press note released on Saturday, the poll body emphasized that all stakeholders must ensure responsible and ethical use of digital platforms, strictly adhering to provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000, IT Rules 2021, and the Model Code of Conduct.
The Commission has mandated that any misleading or unlawful AI-generated or manipulated content must be acted upon within three hours of being flagged. It also directed political parties and candidates to clearly label any AI-generated or digitally altered campaign material as “AI-Generated,” “Digitally Enhanced,” or “Synthetic Content,” along with disclosure of the source to maintain transparency.
The ECI said it is closely monitoring social media activity in states including Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, where assembly elections are underway. Content that violates the Model Code of Conduct, spreads false narratives, or threatens law and order is being actively tracked and acted upon by designated IT nodal officers.
Since the announcement of elections on March 15, over 11,000 social media posts and URLs have been identified for violations. Authorities have taken actions including content removal, filing of FIRs, and issuing clarifications and rebuttals.
Reiterating legal provisions, the Commission highlighted that under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, displaying election-related content is prohibited in polling areas during the 48-hour silence period before the conclusion of voting. Media platforms, including television, radio, print, and social media, have been asked to strictly comply.
Additionally, the ECI reported high public engagement through its cVigil platform. Between March 15 and April 19, over 3.23 lakh complaints were received, of which more than 96 percent were resolved within the stipulated 100-minute timeframe.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections, urging citizens and stakeholders to remain vigilant and report violations promptly.
