Published Paper Details:

This paper provides a comprehensive legal and ethical analysis of the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into modern political campaigning. It examines the dualistic role of AI, which simultaneously offers unprecedented tools for voter engagement and campaign efficiency while posing significant threats to democratic integrity through the proliferation of disinformation, deepfakes, and invasive micro targeting. The paper conducts a comparative analysis of regulatory frameworks, contrasting the proactive, advisory-led approach of the Election Commission of India (ECI) with the comprehensive, rights-based EU AI Act and the fragmented, disclosure-focused legislation in the United States. Through an examination of key case laws, including the Cambridge Analytical scandal and incidents from the 2024 Indian general election, the paper identifies core challenges in regulation, such as the "pacing problem" of law versus technology and the tension between curbing harmful content and protecting free speech. The paper concludes by offering a multi-stakeholder framework of recommendations, advocating for amendments to existing Indian laws (the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Information Technology Act, 2000), mandating algorithmic and financial transparency, prohibiting specific malicious AI applications, and investing in public digital literacy to foster a resilient electorate.