Google has announced its collaboration with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide authoritative guidance on the voting process for the upcoming general elections through Google Search and YouTube videos. The initiative aims to make significant voting information easily accessible in English and Hindi, including instructions on voter registration and voting procedures.

In addition to Google Search, YouTube will feature informative videos covering voter registration, voting guidelines, and candidate profiles. This move is part of Google's broader efforts to combat misinformation and assist users in navigating AI-generated content during the election season.

As part of its commitment to combating misinformation, Google has joined forces with Shakti, the India Election Fact-Checking Collective, comprising news publishers and fact-checkers. Together, they aim to detect and address online misinformation, including deepfakes, by creating a shared repository for news organisations to counter misinformation effectively.

The Shakti project will offer essential training to news organisations and fact-checkers on advanced fact-checking methodologies and deepfake detection, utilising tools like the Fact Check Explorer to streamline verification processes.

Furthermore, YouTube will introduce labelling for all synthetic content to provide viewers with contextual information about the content they consume. Google has already begun labelling content created using YouTube generative AI features like Dream Screen, and soon, creators will be required to disclose when they have produced realistic or altered content, with labels indicating such content.

Regarding its Generative AI products, Google has implemented restrictions on the types of election-related queries that Gemini, its AI chatbot, will respond to by redirecting to Google Search.

Why does it matter?

The Indian government has expressed concerns about the surge of misinformation fueled by AI tools ahead of elections. In January, the Minister of State for Electronics and IT warned social media platforms of strict accountability for AI-generated 'deepfakes.' The case follows a December advisory mandating compliance with existing IT rules, specifically targeting misinformation powered by AI deepfakes. The measure, however, has faced criticism from the Internet Freedom Foundation due to concerns about potential content censorship and a lack of clarity. Interestingly, the decision to restrict Gemini from responding to election-related queries follows the government's law of AI tools being scrutinised by the related Indian authorities.