Democracy in the Age of Deepfakes: A Study of AI-Enabled Disinformation Campaigns in the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way elections are conducted and perceived. The 2025 Bihar Assembly Election show how digital campaigning has entered a new phase, where artificial content can shape what citizens see, hear, and believe. This study examines the increasing use of deepfake videos, voice cloning, and AI-generated political messages in the Bihar Assembly Election and their impact on public discourse. The research analyses selected cases of viral political content reported in the media that prompted the Election Commission of India to formulate rules on the use of synthetic material in campaigns. The study finds that political actors have utilised AI tools both to promote their own narratives and to challenge their opponents' credibility. These practices created uncertainty among voters and placed pressure on fact-checkers and regulatory bodies to promptly identify false or misleading content. The paper argues that the spread of realistic synthetic material can weaken trust in democratic communication even when elections remain free and fair. The study highlights the need for stronger digital awareness among citizens and clear responsibilities for political parties and platforms to ensure that voters are aware when content is artificially created. Bihar offers an important example of how democracy must respond when technology influences not only the message but also the very idea of what is real.