The Election Commission (EC) has taken strong initiatives to prevent the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and social media ahead of the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 2026.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has repeatedly warned that misinformation and disinformation, fueled by AI-generated content, could disrupt a fair electoral environment.
“With AI, it is possible to circulate fabricated content using my image and voice. Such digital abuse is now one of the biggest threats to elections,” he said recently.
To address this, the EC has already incorporated specific provisions into the Parliamentary Election Code of Conduct 2025, finalised on September 4.
The rules strictly prohibit spreading false or defamatory content, deepfakes, hate speech, or inflammatory remarks against women, minorities or political rivals.
Campaigns must disclose official IDs and social media accounts to returning officers, while religious and ethnic sentiments cannot be exploited.
The Commission is also considering forming a central monitoring cell, alongside local-level committees, to oversee AI- and social media-related violations. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said the structure of the monitoring body is being finalised.
Violations of the code may lead to up to six months’ imprisonment, a Tk 1.5 lakh fine, or both. Drones and quadcopters have also been restricted in election campaigns.
In his latest remarks on 28 September, the CEC reiterated that the Commission has been working seriously to fight the abuse of AI, misinformation and disinformation on social media during the upcoming national election.
Senior EC officials stressed that combating AI-driven misinformation is as critical as preventing violence at polling centers.
“Disinformation in the digital era can destroy the election atmosphere more effectively than physical weapons,” the CEC noted.
With less than 18 months to go before the polls, the Commission is under pressure to strike a balance between free political expression and curbing harmful digital manipulation.
