The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has proposed strict regulations to stop political parties and candidates from using artificial intelligence to mislead voters. Proposed amendments to the Code of Conduct for Political Parties forbid candidates, election agents, and their supporters from creating or sharing manipulated material likely to deceive the public.
Campaign materials that are substantially altered or generated through AI must feature clear and conspicuous disclosures identifying the technology used. A total prohibition is suggested on using deepfake technology to produce false, derogatory, or defamatory synthetic voices and likenesses of candidates, party leaders, judiciary members, and armed forces.
Political actors are also barred from deploying AI-based bots or automated accounts to manufacture fake trends and engagement. Robocalls or voice-cloned messages used for voter outreach must state at the beginning of the communication that the content was AI-generated.
Parties and candidates are required to keep records of all AI-assisted campaign content and provide these details to the ECP upon request. Journalists, social media influencers, and media houses must clearly label any election-related material that has been manipulated or generated by AI.
Media organisations may still use AI for translation, anchoring, or analysis if they disclose its use and remain responsible for the accuracy of the output. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), Social Media Protection Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), and National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) will monitor media for undisclosed AI content.
Platforms and media outlets must remove or relabel misleading AI content when directed by the ECP or other regulatory bodies. Election observers must report any manipulated AI content they encounter to the ECP without sharing it further.
Observers are forbidden from using AI tools to fabricate or embellish findings, photographs, or reports submitted to the commission. Stakeholders can submit feedback and suggestions regarding these proposals to the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad by 20 November 2026.
