DocumentedDeepfake Political DisinformationApril 2024 to June 2024India

AI-Generated Disinformation in India's 2024 Lok Sabha Election

India's 2024 general election saw the most extensive deployment of generative-AI in any democratic election to date. More than 50 million AI-generated voice-clone calls were made in the two months before polling. Deepfake videos and audio impersonating Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh circulated widely. A particularly damaging doctored clip of Amit Shah appearing to announce the abolition of caste-based reservations led to police FIRs.

AI system:Multiple generative AI voice and video tools

Impact

Mumbai Police registered cases against social-media accounts including one tied to the Maharashtra State Youth Congress. The Election Commission of India issued multiple advisories to political parties on responsible AI use. Researchers (Resolver, Tech Policy Press) documented that AI-generated content was consumed by tens of millions of voters during the campaign window.

Outcome

Election Commission directives issued; multiple FIRs filed across states; Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla publicly warned in February 2026 that deepfakes pose 'serious risk to democratic discourse.' India introduced proposed legislation to require labelling of AI-generated social-media content.

Sources

  1. Source 1NBC Newswww.nbcnews.com/news/world/india-ai-changing-elections-world-rcna154838
  2. Source 2Tech Policy Presswww.techpolicy.press/the-era-of-aigenerated-election-campaigning-is-underway-in-india/
  3. Source 3Outlook Indiawww.outlookindia.com/elections/viral-deepfakes-of-politicians-and-actors-raise-alarm-bells-for-indian-elections
  4. Source 4New Lines Magazinenewlinesmag.com/spotlight/ai-and-deepfakes-played-a-big-role-in-indias-elections/
  5. Source 5Business Standardwww.business-standard.com/elections/lok-sabha-election/deepfakes-of-bollywood-stars-spark-concerns-of-ai-meddling-in-ls-elections-124042200110_1.html

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