delhi-high-court-instructs-election-commission-to-address-concerns-over-deep-fake-tech-in-elections

The Delhi High Court has instructed the Election Commission to address concerns regarding the use of deepfake technology in election campaigns, particularly amid the controversy surrounding a video allegedly featuring Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Court emphasised the urgency of the matter and directed the EC to make a decision by Monday.

Acknowledging the significance of free and fair elections, the Court clarified that it cannot intervene directly during ongoing elections but urged the Election Commission to take action and examine the issue promptly. It also requested the petitioner to submit a comprehensive representation to the EC.

The plea, filed by Lawyer Voice, highlighted the detrimental impact of deepfake technologies on the electoral process, arguing that they contribute to the spread of misinformation and undermine the integrity of elections.

The petitioner urged social media platforms such as Google, Meta (formerly Facebook), and X Corp (formerly Twitter) to remove deep fake content related to political candidates until the election results are declared.

The plea pointed out that various international organisations and countries, including political parties in the European Union, have recognized the potential threat posed by deepfake technologies and have taken steps to address it.

Senior advocate Jayant Mehta, representing the petitioner, emphasised the dangers of deep fake content, stating that it could manipulate election outcomes and undermine accountability.

The plea highlighted the inadequacy of existing legal frameworks to address the harms of deepfake technologies and stressed the need for robust regulations to safeguard the integrity of elections.

It called for decisive action to prevent the misuse of deepfake technology and protect the democratic process from manipulation.

All things considered, the Court's instruction highlights the necessity of taking proactive steps to preserve the ideals of free and fair elections as well as the significance of tackling the problems presented by deepfake technology in political campaigns.