The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has proposed new ECP AI election rules to prevent political parties and candidates from using artificial intelligence to mislead voters. The proposed amendments aim to tackle deepfake videos, manipulated audio, synthetic images and fake social media engagement that could distort public opinion during elections. The commission has shared the draft provisions with stakeholders and invited feedback by November 20, 2026.
The proposed rules seek to establish greater transparency and accountability for the use of AI in political campaigns, media coverage and election observation.
AI-Generated Campaign Content Must Be Labelled
Under the proposed amendments to the Code of Conduct for Political Parties, political parties, candidates, election agents and their supporters would be prohibited from creating or distributing AI-generated or manipulated content intended to deceive voters about its authenticity.
Campaign material produced or substantially altered using AI, including deepfake images, videos, audio recordings and synthetic voices, would need clear and prominent disclosures identifying it as AI-generated or AI-assisted.
The material would also have to comply with existing election laws and the relevant code of conduct.
These proposed ECP AI election rules are intended to help voters distinguish genuine campaign communications from artificially generated material. Such transparency could become increasingly important as AI tools make it easier to produce convincing videos, imitate voices and manipulate statements attributed to political figures.
Ban Proposed on Deepfakes and Fake Political Trends
The ECP has proposed a strict prohibition on using AI-powered deepfake technology to create false, derogatory or defamatory representations of candidates, political leaders, supporters and public officials.
The proposed restrictions also cover synthetic likenesses, voices and statements involving election officials, members of the judiciary, the armed forces and other state functionaries.
Another major element concerns the use of automated accounts and AI-powered bots to manufacture public support. Political parties and candidates would be barred from generating fake trends or artificially increasing likes, comments, shares and followers to create a misleading impression of popularity.
The measures aim to address a growing challenge in digital campaigning: online engagement does not always reflect genuine public opinion.
If implemented, the ECP AI election rules would place greater responsibility on political actors to ensure that their online campaigning does not rely on deceptive content or artificially inflated engagement.
Disclosure Required for AI Voice Messages
The draft also addresses the use of AI in direct voter outreach. Political parties and candidates using robocalls or voice-cloned messages would have to disclose at the beginning of each call or message that the content was generated using AI.
In addition, parties and candidates would be required to maintain records of all AI-generated or AI-assisted campaign material used during the election period.
They would have to provide complete details to the ECP whenever requested.
These record-keeping requirements could help the commission investigate complaints, establish the origins of disputed campaign material and assess whether political actors have complied with the proposed code.
Media Organisations Face New Responsibilities
The proposed amendments extend beyond political parties to print, electronic and digital media, including journalists, newspapers, television channels and social media influencers.
Under the draft provisions, election-related content created or manipulated using AI would need to be clearly labelled when broadcast, published or circulated.
Media organisations would still be permitted to use AI for content generation, translation, anchoring and analysis, provided they disclosed its use and remained responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of the material.
The proposed framework would also prohibit media outlets from using deepfakes to produce false or defamatory representations of political figures and other specified individuals.
To support enforcement, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Social Media Protection Regulatory Authority (SMPRA) and National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) would be required to monitor election-related content and take appropriate action over non-compliance.
Media organisations and social media platforms could also be directed by the ECP or another relevant regulator to remove or correctly label misleading AI-generated material promptly.
Election Observers Must Report AI Disinformation
Election observers would also have responsibilities under the proposed code. They would be expected to identify AI-generated or manipulated content encountered during their work and report it promptly to the ECP without spreading it further.
Observers would be prohibited from using AI tools to fabricate or alter their findings, photographs, videos or reports submitted to the commission.
Their assessments would need to reflect genuine, factual and firsthand observations of the electoral process.
Stakeholders Invited to Submit Feedback
The ECP said emerging AI technologies have significant implications for election stakeholders. It cited its constitutional responsibility to ensure elections are conducted honestly, justly and fairly, while guarding against corrupt practices and manipulation.
The proposed ECP AI election rules have been published on the commission’s official website and shared with stakeholders for consultation. Feedback and suggestions must be submitted to the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad by November 20, 2026.
The proposals signal an effort to address the risks AI poses to electoral integrity while allowing its responsible use. Their final impact will depend on the wording of the rules ultimately adopted, effective enforcement and the ability of regulators to respond quickly to misleading content.
For voters, the central objective is straightforward: political information should be transparent, authentic and not deliberately manipulated to influence electoral choices.
