Lawmakers propose allowing AI implementation in political election strategies
AI in Russian Election Campaigns: A Developing Landscape
Russia is exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in its election campaign materials, with a draft law recently introduced to regulate its use. The legislation, proposed by deputies Yaroslav Nilov, Dmitry Gushev, Andrei Svintsov, and Alexander Yushchenko, aims to prevent abuses in the use of AI while also recognizing its potential to optimize production costs and streamline the creation process of agitation materials.
The draft law mandates that all AI-assisted printed and audiovisual products must be clearly marked. This transparency measure is intended to ensure accountability and foster public trust in the election process.
However, as of August 2025, no detailed or specific publicly available regulations or proposed amendments explicitly addressing the use of AI in election campaign materials in Russia have been identified. The closest context is AI application in state programs related to youth profiling and information control, which may indirectly impact political messaging but are not election campaign regulations per se.
Ella Pamfilova, Chair of the Central Election Commission, has expressed concerns about the potential use of AI for "destructive purposes," such as creating deepfakes. The Central Election Commission has previously expressed the need for legislative regulation of AI use in elections, and it will determine the specifics of AI usage in the production of agitation materials.
Notably, the draft law does not specify any penalties for non-compliance with the regulations regarding AI usage in pre-election agitation. Additionally, it does not impose any restrictions on the types of AI technologies that can be used in pre-election agitation.
The authors of the draft law believe that the consistent integration of AI into public life, including elections, is crucial for achieving Russia's national development goals. They argue that AI application can significantly reduce production costs and optimize the creation process of agitation materials.
As the implementation of this draft law unfolds, it will be interesting to observe how Russia navigates the intersection of technology and democracy, balancing innovation with transparency and accountability in its election processes.
- The draft law in Russia, proposed by certain deputies, seeks to govern the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in election campaign materials, aiming to prevent misuses while recognizing its potential cost-optimizing benefits for agitation materials.
- The legislation mandates that all AI-assisted printed and audiovisual products must be transparently marked, a measure designed to ensure accountability and foster public trust in the election process.
- Although the draft law does not specify penalties for non-compliance or restrictions on AI technologies, it emphasizes the importance of AI integration for achieving national development goals, particularly in reducing production costs and streamlining the creation process of agitation materials.
