ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has proposed strict new rules barring political parties and candidates from using artificial intelligence, deepfakes and manipulated content to deceive voters, according to GEO TV, which first reported the proposed amendments on October 26, 2026. The draft changes to the Code of Conduct for Political Parties would make Pakistan among the first countries in the region to build a full legal wall against synthetic deception in election campaigns.
The move comes as the ECP says it is fulfilling its constitutional duty to ensure that elections are conducted honestly, justly and fairly, and to guard against corrupt practices, including manipulation of the electoral process through misleading AI-generated content. The proposed provisions have been uploaded to the ECP's official website and shared with stakeholders, who have until November 20, 2026 to submit feedback to the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad.
What the proposed ECP AI rules would ban
Under the draft code, parties, candidates, election agents and their supporters would be barred from creating or spreading AI-generated or manipulated material likely to deceive voters about its authenticity or misrepresent a person's words, actions or likeness. Campaign material generated or substantially altered through AI, including deepfake images, videos, audio clips and synthetic voices, would have to carry clear and conspicuous disclosure identifying it as AI-generated or AI-assisted.
The ECP has proposed a strict prohibition on AI-powered deepfake technology used to create false, derogatory or defamatory synthetic likenesses, voices or statements of candidates, party leaders, their supporters, election officials, members of the judiciary, the armed forces or other state functionaries. In a country where the dignity of our judiciary and the honor of our soldiers are matters of national sanctity, this protection is both timely and necessary.
Parties would also be barred from using AI-based bots, automated accounts or similar tools to create fake trends and engagement, including likes, comments, shares and followers, aimed at giving a false impression of public support. Robocalls and voice-cloned voter outreach would have to disclose at the start of the call or message that the content was AI-generated. Parties and candidates would also have to retain records of all AI-generated or AI-assisted campaign content used during the election period and provide complete details to the ECP whenever required.
How would the rules affect media and journalists?
The proposed amendments go beyond political parties, with separate provisions covering media organizations and election observers. Print, electronic and digital media, journalists, newspapers, television channels and social media influencers would be required to clearly label and disclose AI-generated or manipulated election-related material, including synthetic images, videos, audio and voice-cloned content, at the time of broadcast, publication or circulation.
The proposed media code would prohibit the use of deepfake technology to create false, derogatory or defamatory synthetic likenesses, voices or statements involving candidates, party leaders, their supporters, election officials, members of the judiciary, the armed forces and other state functionaries.
Media organizations would still be allowed to use AI for election-related content generation, translation, anchoring or analysis, provided they disclose its use to their audiences and remain responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of AI-assisted content.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the Social Media Protection Regulatory Authority (SMPRA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) would be required to monitor print, electronic, digital and social media for undisclosed or unlabelled AI-generated election-related content. They would also have to take appropriate action in cases of non-compliance and submit reports to the poll organizing body. Media organizations and social media platforms would, on the direction of the ECP or another regulator, have to promptly take down or correctly relabel AI-generated content found to be undisclosed or misleading.
The News Pakistan, reporting on the draft safeguards, noted that the ECP is seeking to prevent voters from being misled by deepfakes and manipulated campaign material in its coverage of the proposed AI safeguards.
What would election observers have to do?
Election observers would be required to remain vigilant about AI-generated or manipulated content, including deepfakes, synthetic audio and videos, and AI-generated disinformation encountered during their observation of the electoral process. They would have to report such cases promptly to the ECP without further disseminating the content.
The proposed rules would also prohibit observers from using AI tools to fabricate, alter or embellish their observations, findings, photographs, videos or reports submitted to the commission. Their reports would have to reflect factual, genuine and first-hand assessments of the electoral process.
Dawn, in its report on the proposed AI rules, confirmed that political parties and contesting candidates would be required to clearly disclose all AI-generated campaign material, including deepfake images, audio, video and synthetic voices.
Why the AI rules matter for Pakistan's democratic future
The ECP said AI, as an emerging technology, had implications for election stakeholders. The step signals a recognition that the battle for truth is now fought not only on the streets and in the press, but in the invisible circuits of the digital world, where a manufactured voice can imitate a leader and a fabricated video can slander an institution in seconds.
For a nation born in faith and forged in struggle, the integrity of the ballot is not a technical matter; it is a trust. The ECP's draft code, if adopted, would protect that trust from those who would counterfeit it with machines. THE DESTINATION reported that the rules would require parties, candidates, election agents and supporters not to use AI to trick voters or twist what a person said or did, and that any campaign material made or heavily changed by AI must carry a clear and visible label, in its account of the draft provisions.
Stakeholders now have until November 20, 2026 to submit their feedback and suggestions to the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad before the proposed code is finalized.
FAQ
What has the ECP proposed about AI in elections?
The Election Commission of Pakistan has proposed amendments to the Code of Conduct for Political Parties that would ban deceptive AI content, including deepfakes targeting candidates, officials, the judiciary and the armed forces, and require clear disclosure of AI-generated campaign material.
When is the deadline for feedback on the proposed AI rules?
Stakeholders may submit feedback and suggestions to the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad by November 20, 2026.
Which regulators would enforce the AI election rules?
Pemra, SMPRA and the NCCIA would monitor media for undisclosed AI-generated election content, take action on non-compliance and submit reports to the ECP.
Can media organizations still use AI for election coverage?
Yes, but they must disclose its use to audiences and remain responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of AI-assisted content.