The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday proposed discouraging the use of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) in election campaigns, saying such activities could violate the electoral code of conduct.

The proposal was included in the amendments to the Representation of the People Order 1972 (RPO). Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said the commission suggested that no activity using AI or social media should contravene the code. “No activities will be allowed that violate the code of conduct by using social media or AI, according to the proposed RPO amendments,” he told a media briefing at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon.

Acknowledging the rapid development of ICT, Sanaullah said it is often difficult to distinguish between real and AI-generated content, which is why the EC wants to regulate these tools to prevent breaches of electoral rules. “Many things in our mobile phones are AI,” he noted.

Under the proposed changes, political parties would need to inform the EC in advance about the platforms they plan to use during campaigns.

Sanaullah also said the EC recommended cancelling a current RPO provision that allows online submission of nomination papers, instead assigning presiding officers additional responsibilities at polling stations.