Misinformation and Elections: The Battle for Truth in the Age of AI

As election fever grips the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the northern state of Haryana, the Election Commission of India (ECI) faces a daunting challenge: protecting the electoral process from the onslaught of misinformation, deepfakes, and AI-driven fake news. These technologies, while offering innovative possibilities for communication, also pose serious risks to the integrity of democratic elections.

In a country as diverse and complex as India, the spread of misinformation can have far-reaching consequences, sowing division, and eroding trust in the electoral process. The stakes are particularly high in regions like Jammu & Kashmir, where political tensions are already elevated, and the potential for misinformation to exacerbate is substantial.

In recent years, more so in the recently held parliamentary elections, in May and June, we witnessed an alarming rise in the use of artificial intelligence or AI to craft both information and misinformation during election campaigns. As now Jammu and Kashmir prepares for polls after six years of President’s rule, it will be yet another critical test of its electoral machinery, more so when the social media contents invade from overseas or across the border with false propaganda and fake news. The ECI will have to work overtime to ensure that the voters are not swayed by false narratives.

 Social media platforms have become powerful tools for political communication

India’s electoral landscape has changed over the past decade. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for political communication, enabling parties to reach millions of voters with the click of a button.

The 2019, and now 2024 general elections across the country were a stark reminder of the challenges posed by misinformation. During the campaign, false narratives spread rapidly across social media, creating confusion and mistrust among voters. For instance, in the past, a widely circulated WhatsApp message falsely claimed that the Election Commission had decided to reschedule polling dates in certain constituencies due to “intelligence reports” about security threats.

In another case in February 2024, a forged circular continued circulating on social media platforms that the Election Commission of India had released the schedule for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Dismissing these claims, the ECI clarified that the document is fabricated and that no official schedule has been issued. Nobody then knew about the accuracy of the information they received. However, the ECI quickly debunked this claim.

More recently, the advent of AI has added a new dimension to the problem of misinformation. Deepfakes, AI-generated videos or audio recordings that manipulate reality have emerged as one of the forms of fake news. These digital fabrications can be used to create convincing but entirely false content, such as doctored videos of political leaders making inflammatory statements or AI-generated voice messages spreading divisive rhetoric. These AI-generated messages can be detected as false content, but the damage has already been done leading to rumours and hatred.

Recognizing the potential threat posed by misinformation, the ECI has taken proactive steps to address this challenge. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has emphasized the importance of vigilance in the fight against false narratives, stating that the spread of misinformation and fake news has become a significant concern in today’s digital age, especially during critical events like elections.

 The ECI’s Multi-Pronged Strategy to Combat Misinformation

In preparation for the upcoming elections in Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana, the ECI has deployed a set of measures aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process. Central to this strategy is the deployment of over 400 senior officers as General, Police, and Expenditure Observers across the two regions. These Observers, drawn from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and other Central Services, have been tasked with monitoring the election process and ensuring that it is conducted fairly and transparently.

During a day-long briefing session held in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners provided detailed instructions to the Observers, emphasizing their critical role in countering misinformation.

“Observers as representatives of the Commission are expected to conduct themselves professionally and be accessible to all stakeholders, including candidates and the public at large,” Rajiv Kumar said. He further advised them to “overcome language barriers and ensure that there are no gaps in communication,” highlighting the importance of clear and accurate information in the fight against false narratives.

One of the most significant tools in the ECI’s arsenal is the newly introduced “Myth vs Reality Register.” This online repository serves as a comprehensive resource for debunking fake news related to elections in India.

The register is updated regularly with verified information, allowing voters and media organizations to quickly and easily verify the authenticity of election-related claims. By providing a centralized source of accurate information, the ECI aims to prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure that voters are making decisions based on facts rather than falsehoods.

A recent example in the last elections illustrates the importance of this initiative. A post that went viral on social media claimed that the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, made it mandatory to link voter IDs with Aadhaar numbers. This claim sparked widespread concern, with many fearing that they would be disenfranchised if they did not comply.

The ECI, however, swiftly clarified that the submission of Aadhaar details is entirely voluntary under the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021. No entry in the electoral roll can be deleted on the grounds of non-submission of Aadhaar, and existing voters can voluntarily submit their Aadhaar details. This prompt debunking of misinformation by the ECI helped to dispel fears and restore trust in the electoral process.

The ECI has empowered Observers with the authority to take immediate action against any attempts to derail the election process through misinformation. This includes monitoring social media platforms for the circulation of deepfake content, patently false information, and derogatory posts targeting specific individuals or groups. Observers have also been instructed to ensure that political parties adhere to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and existing legal provisions, including the Information Technology Act of 2000.

To further enhance the effectiveness of Observers, the ECI has directed them to remain accessible to all stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, and voters. This accessibility is crucial for timely grievance redressal and for ensuring that any attempts to spread misinformation are promptly addressed. The ECI has also mandated that political parties remove any objectionable content from social media platforms within three hours of identification and report unlawful information and fake user accounts to the respective platforms.

 Combating Misinformation Demands Collective Action from All including Media

While above stated measures and instructions from the ECI are necessary, they are not sufficient on their own. The battle against misinformation requires a collective effort from all stakeholders, including political parties, media organizations, civil society, and the public. Political parties must exercise restraint and adhere to ethical standards in their use of AI and digital tools, ensuring that their campaigns are based on facts rather than falsehoods. Media organizations must prioritise accuracy and rigour in their reporting, helping to counteract the spread of misinformation by providing clear and truthful information by using fact-check tools before it reaches the public.

For the public, the responsibility lies in being discerning consumers of information and not forwarding any such hate mail or disinformation without verifying.

Voters must also critically evaluate the information they receive, particularly from social media platforms, and seek out reliable sources of information.

The ECI’s Myth vs Reality Register is one such resource, that anyone with internet facility can use, but ultimately the onus is on an individual; to make informed decisions and spreading the message based on evidence rather than emotion.

In addition, simplified fact-checking tools should be easily accessible to everyone, free of cost so that people can quickly verify the truth of any information they come across. These tools would allow users to simply paste the information they want to check, and in an instant, they could find out if it is real or false. Making these tools widely available would help the public avoid being misled by false news or misinformation, ensuring they have access to accurate and trustworthy information.

Secondly, like adult education, digital education for the middle-aged population is a must. The government needs to start these courses, both online and offline. This will help a major section of society, who still fight to get familiarised with the development of digitalisation. It will not only help in saving them from disinformation but also shelter them from falling prey to the everyday digital scams and crimes.

The challenges posed by misinformation and AI-driven fake news are likely to become even more pronounced. The ECI’s proactive measures, including the deployment of Observers and the creation of the Myth vs Reality Register, are critical steps in addressing these challenges. However, the fight against misinformation is far from over.

The future of filtering false information depends on the ability of its institutions, political parties, and citizens to adapt to the evolving digital landscape. As AI and other technologies continue to transform methods of disseminating false news, the need for vigilance, transparency, fact-checking and accountability also need to grow in parallel to counter it. The battle against misinformation is not just about protecting the outcome of a single election; it is about preserving the very essence of democracy itself. And in this battle, every vote, every voice, and every action counts.

 Surinder Singh Oberoi, National Editor Greater Kashmir