AI-Generated Misinformation and Political Trust in India: Challenges for Democratic Participation

The proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the character of political communication in India, the world's largest electoral democracy. Deepfakes, synthetic voice clones and AI-generated text now circulate alongside conventional misinformation on social media and messaging platforms, complicating citizens' ability to distinguish authentic political content from fabricated material. This paper examines the relationship between AI-generated misinformation and political trust in India, and its consequences for democratic participation. Drawing on secondary sources, illustrative cases from the 2024 Lok Sabha election and recent state elections, and an analysis of the evolving legal and regulatory framework, the paper argues that AI-generated misinformation erodes political trust through two parallel mechanisms: the direct deception of voters, and the corrosive 'liar's dividend', whereby genuine content is dismissed as fabricated. It further argues that existing legal instruments, including the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and advisories issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Election Commission of India, are reactive and insufficiently tailored to the specific risks posed by generative AI. The paper concludes with recommendations spanning media and AI literacy, platform accountability, electoral safeguards and calibrated regulation that protects both electoral integrity and freedom of expression.