New Delhi: ECI social media action was tightened as the Election Commission of India directed platforms to remove unlawful or misleading content within three hours during the 2026 elections.
The Commission said all stakeholders must ensure ethical use of digital platforms. It stressed compliance with the Information Technology Act, 2000, IT Rules, 2021, and the Model Code of Conduct. It added that any AI-generated or manipulated content must be flagged quickly once reported.
Political parties and candidates were asked to label synthetic campaign material clearly. They must use tags such as “AI-Generated” or “Digitally Enhanced.” They must also disclose the source to ensure transparency and maintain voter trust.
The Commission said officials were monitoring social media content in ongoing assembly elections. These include Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and West Bengal. अधिकारियों acted on posts that violated the Model Code or disrupted public order.
ECI social media monitoring flags violations across states
Since March 15, 2026, authorities have identified over 11,000 posts and URLs. They acted through removals, FIRs, clarifications and rebuttals. The Commission said State IT Nodal Officers handled these actions under the IT Act.
It also reiterated rules under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. These rules ban election-related content during the 48-hour silence period before polling ends. Media platforms, including social media, must follow these rules strictly.
Meanwhile, citizens and political parties used the C-Vigil app to report violations. Between March 15 and April 19, 3,23,099 complaints were filed. Of these, 3,10,393 complaints were resolved within 100 minutes. This marked a 96.01% resolution rate.
