Dhaka: The Election Commission has announced a proposal to the government to amend the Representation of the People Order 1972 (RPO) in an effort to limit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and social media during election campaigns due to concerns about potential violations of the electoral code of conduct.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd) Abul Fazal M Sanaullah stated that the commission aims to prohibit any activities involving AI and social media that could contravene the electoral code. During a media briefing at Nirbachon Bhaban in Agargaon, he emphasized that the proposed changes to the RPO would disallow any actions that breach the code of conduct through these digital platforms.
Sanaullah acknowledged the challenges posed by the rapid development of information and communication technology (ICT), which often blurs the lines between genuine and AI-generated content. As a result, the Election Commission intends to regulate the use of such technologies to ensure compliance with electoral regulations. He pointed out the prevalence of AI in everyday mobile phone applications, underscoring the need for guidelines.
Furthermore, political parties will be required to notify the Election Commission in advance about the specific platforms they intend to use for their election campaigns. In addition to these proposals, Sanaullah mentioned that the Election Commission also seeks to revoke the RPO provision that permits the online submission of nomination papers and to assign presiding officers with responsibilities at polling stations.