ECI action on unlawful social media content
Why in News?
On April 19, 2026, the ECI revealed it has already acted upon over 11,000 unlawful social media posts and URLs since the election schedule was announced on March 15.
Regulation of AI and Synthetic Media
- Mandatory Labelling: All AI-generated, digitally enhanced, or synthetic campaign materials must be clearly labelled as such.
- Origin Disclosure: Political parties must disclose the entity that created or originated the synthetic content to maintain voter trust.
- Rapid Removal: Misleading AI content must be taken down within 3 hours of being flagged.
Legal Framework and Enforcement
- Statutory Compliance: All content must adhere to the Information Technology Act, 2000, IT Rules 2021, and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
- Penal Action: Beyond removals, the ECI is actively filing FIRs against individuals spreading false narratives or content likely to disrupt law and order.
- State Monitoring: Specially notified State IT Nodal Officers are monitoring platforms 24/7 for violations.
48-Hour Silence Period
- Digital Prohibitions: Under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, no election matter can be displayed in polling areas for 48 hours before voting ends.
- Platform Responsibility: This rule strictly applies to social media, TV, radio, and print media to ensure an unbiased voting environment.
Transparency and Reporting
- MCMC Pre-certification: Political advertisements on social media and electronic platforms require prior approval from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee as seen on Instagram.
- Citizen Reporting: The C-Vigil app remains the primary tool for citizens to report MCC violations, with a guaranteed response time.
- Verified Channels: The ECI urged the public to rely only on official, verified accounts for poll-related information to avoid falling for "identity theft" or imposter accounts.
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