ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, DEEPFAKES, AND ELECTORALINTEGRITY IN INDIA: LEGAL AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYCHALLENGES

Abstract

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed multiple facets of society, including political communication and electoral processes. In India, where digital campaigning increasingly dominates elections, AI-generated content such as deepfakes, manipulated images, and voice cloning poses significant challenges to free and fair elections. These technological innovations can undermine voter trust, distort public opinion, and blur the line between authentic political discourse and fabricated propaganda. Furthermore, AI-driven campaign content frequently intersects with intellectual property rights (IPR), as it may involve unauthorized use of copyrighted material, trademarks, and the likenesses of public figures. This paper examines the legal frameworks governing elections, digital communication, and intellectual property in India, identifying gaps in current regulations. By employing a doctrinal research methodology supplemented with comparative insights from the US, EU, and UK, this study analyzes the implications of AI misuse for electoral integrity. The findings suggest that while existing Indian laws provide partial remedies, specific regulatory measures addressing AI’s role in electoral campaigns are urgently needed. This study adopts a doctrinal research methodology, supported by comparative analysis of regulatory approaches in the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom, to examine the adequacy of India’s existing legal framework on elections, digital communication, and IPR. The analysis finds that current Indian laws offer only partial safeguards, leaving critical gaps in addressing AI-enabled manipulation during electoral campaigns. The research further indicates that India lacks targeted rules for transparency, provenance, accountability, and misuse of AI-generated political content. The paper proposes a multi-pronged reform approach that balances technological innovation with the protection of democratic ideals, ensuring transparency, accountability, and the safeguarding of IPR in electoral contexts.