on Illegal Content on Social Media

Mumbai, April 2026 : The Election Commission of India has taken a strict stance against illegal and misleading content on social media and digital platforms in the run-up to the 2026 general and by-elections. The Commission has urged all stakeholders to use social media responsibly and ethically.

The Commission has directed strict compliance with the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the IT Rules 2021, and the Model Code of Conduct. It has made it mandatory for social media platforms to take action within three hours of identifying any misleading or unlawful content, especially material created or manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI).

Political parties, candidates, and campaign representatives have been instructed to clearly label any AI-based or digitally altered campaign material with tags such as “AI-Generated,” “Digitally Enhanced,” or “Synthetic Content.” Additionally, they must disclose the original source of such content. The Commission noted that these measures are essential to ensure transparency and maintain voter trust.

At present, during the ongoing Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and West Bengal, authorities are closely monitoring social media for violations of the Model Code of Conduct. Posts that could disturb law and order or spread misinformation about the voting process are being tracked by designated IT nodal officers, with immediate action taken when necessary.

Since the announcement of elections on March 15, 2026, more than 11,000 social media posts and URLs have been identified and acted upon. The actions include content removal, registration of First Information Reports (FIRs), issuance of clarifications, and publication of rebuttals.

The Commission has also reiterated the provisions under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which prohibit the display of any election campaign material during the 48-hour silence period before the conclusion of polling. Television, radio, print media, and social media platforms are required to strictly adhere to these regulations.

Meanwhile, citizens, political parties, and candidates have been encouraged to report violations of the Model Code of Conduct using the C-Vigil app available on ECINET. Between March 15 and April 19, a total of 323,099 complaints were received, out of which 96.01 percent—amounting to 310,393 complaints—have already been resolved, according to an official statement issued by the Election Commission of India.