Indian Ruling Party Deployed AI-Generated Hate Speech Ahead of State Elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India is facing scrutiny after official social media accounts utilized generative artificial intelligence to circulate inflammatory content targeting religious and ethnic minorities. In a recent instance, the Assam branch of the party shared a video depicting Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma firing a weapon at an AI-generated image of political rival Gaurav Gogoi and an unidentified man wearing traditional Muslim headwear. The video, which included xenophobic slogans, was later removed following public backlash.

Investigations into the party’s digital strategy reveal a broader pattern of behavior in the border states of Assam and West Bengal. An analysis of nearly 500 social media posts from official BJP accounts identified dozens of instances where AI-generated imagery was used to promote content that aligns with United Nations definitions of hate speech. These digital campaigns often rely on manipulated photos to misrepresent political opponents or propagate anti-Muslim and anti-Bangladeshi sentiment.

This trend reflects a growing global concern regarding the weaponization of generative AI in political discourse. Similar tactics have been observed in recent elections across the United States, Italy, and the United Kingdom, where political actors have employed synthetic media to disparage opponents and incite division. As legislative elections approach in Assam and West Bengal, the use of such technology highlights the challenges of maintaining electoral integrity in an era of sophisticated digital manipulation.