AI Deepfakes Could Face New Rules in Pakistan: What Will Change?

Pakistan's Election Commission has proposed new rules to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) during elections. The proposed changes aim to prevent misleading content, reduce the misuse of deepfake technology, and improve transparency in political campaigns and election coverage.

The draft amendments cover political parties, candidates, media organisations, and election observers. The commission has invited public and stakeholder feedback by November 20, 2026.

What Will the Proposed AI Rules Change?

Under the proposed rules, political parties and candidates would need to clearly label AI-generated campaign material, including manipulated images, videos, audio clips, and artificial voices.

The draft also seeks to prevent the use of deepfakes to mislead voters or falsely represent the words and actions of political figures and other public officials.

These measures are intended to help people identify AI-generated content and make more informed decisions during elections.

New Requirements for Media Organisations

Media organisations would be required to disclose when AI is used to create or modify election-related content. This would include material prepared with AI tools for translation, news presentation, and analysis.

Media outlets would also remain responsible for the accuracy of the information they publish or broadcast, even when AI tools are involved.

The proposed framework would allow relevant regulatory bodies to monitor online content and report possible violations to the Election Commission.

Action Against Fake Online Engagement

The proposed amendments also address the use of automated accounts and AI-powered bots to artificially increase likes, comments, shares, or followers.

Political parties and candidates would be required to preserve records of AI-assisted campaign material. Robocalls and voter messages using cloned voices would also need to disclose at the beginning that AI had been used.

These measures aim to improve transparency and reduce attempts to create a false impression of public support.

When Could the New Rules Take Effect?

The proposed amendments are not yet final rules. The Election Commission has requested feedback from stakeholders by November 20, 2026, before the process moves forward.

If adopted, the changes could introduce clearer requirements for AI-generated election content and increase accountability for political campaigns, media organisations, and election observers.

As AI technology becomes more widely used, the proposals highlight the growing importance of transparency and accurate information during elections.