The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has proposed tough limits on political parties and candidates that use artificial intelligence to mislead voters. The commission flagged deepfakes, manipulated content and AI-generated fake trends as threats during elections. The proposals would amend the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and would bind parties, candidates, election agents and their supporters.
Under the draft, campaign material that is created or heavily altered with AI, including deepfake images, videos, audio clips and synthetic voices, would need a clear and conspicuous label showing it is AI-generated or AI-assisted. Such material would also have to comply with election laws and the relevant code of conduct.
Limits on deepfakes, fake engagement and voter calls
The ECP has proposed a strict ban on using AI-powered deepfake technology to produce false, derogatory or defamatory likenesses, voices or statements of candidates, party leaders, their supporters, election officials, members of the judiciary, the armed forces and other state functionaries. The aim is to stop fabricated material that damages reputations or misrepresents what people said or did.
Parties and candidates would also be barred from using AI bots, automated accounts or similar tools to manufacture trends and engagement. That includes fake likes, comments, shares and followers designed to create a false impression of public support.
Parties and candidates that use AI for voter outreach through robocalls or voice-cloned messages would have to disclose at the start of the call or message that the content was AI-generated. They would also be required to keep records of all AI-generated or AI-assisted campaign content used during the election period. Full details must be given to the ECP whenever it asks for them.
Duties for media outlets, regulators and social platforms
The proposed amendments go beyond political actors. A separate set of provisions covers media organisations and election observers. Print, electronic and digital outlets, journalists, newspapers, television channels and social media influencers would have to label and disclose AI-generated or manipulated election-related material when it is broadcast, published or circulated. That covers synthetic images, video, audio and voice-cloned content.
A proposed media code would also ban the use of deepfake technology to create false, derogatory or defamatory synthetic likenesses, voices or statements involving the same groups of people named in the party rules. Media organisations could still use AI for election content generation, translation, anchoring or analysis. They must, however, tell their audiences when they do so and stay responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of AI-assisted work.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the Social Media Protection Regulatory Authority (SMPRA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) would be tasked with monitoring print, electronic, digital and social media. Their job would be to find undisclosed or unlabelled AI-generated election content, act against non-compliance and submit reports to the poll organising body. Media organisations and social media platforms would have to remove or correctly relabel such content promptly if the ECP or another regulatory authority directs them to, where it is found to be undisclosed or misleading.
Observers barred from AI-altered reporting
Election observers would be expected to stay alert to AI-generated or manipulated content they encounter while watching the electoral process. That includes deepfakes, synthetic audio and video, and AI-generated disinformation. They would have to report such cases to the ECP promptly and avoid passing the content on.
The draft also bars observers from using AI tools to fabricate, alter or embellish their observations, findings, photographs, videos or reports sent to the commission. Their submissions would need to reflect factual, genuine and first-hand assessments of the electoral process.
The ECP said AI, as an emerging technology, had implications for everyone involved in elections. It pointed to its constitutional responsibility to ensure polls are conducted honestly, justly and fairly. It also cited its duty to guard against corrupt practices, including manipulation of the electoral process through misleading AI-generated content.
Public feedback invited before the deadline
The proposed provisions have been uploaded to the ECP’s official website and shared with stakeholders. Those stakeholders have been invited to send feedback and suggestions to the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad by November 20, 2026.
