India Amends Election Rules to Limit Public Access to Electronic Records

The government cites voter privacy and misuse concerns, but opposition parties argue the move undermines electoral transparency and democracy.

The Union government amended Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, restricting public access to electronic election materials such as CCTV footage and webcasting recordings.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) recommended the change, citing risks to voter privacy and potential misuse of footage, including AI-generated fake narratives.
Opposition parties, including Congress and CPI(M), criticized the amendment, calling it a threat to electoral transparency and accusing the government of eroding the Election Commission's independence.
The amendment follows a Haryana High Court ruling that directed the ECI to share election-related electronic records, prompting concerns about future legal challenges.
While candidates retain access to all relevant documents, critics argue the amendment limits public accountability and weakens mechanisms ensuring free and fair elections.