Google Introduces Stringent Ad Policies And AI Content Guidelines For Indian Elections

Google, as India’s general elections near, has unveiled a suite of measures designed to ensure voters receive accurate information, protect its platforms from misuse, and manage AI-generated content effectively.

What Happened: Teaming up with the Election Commission of India (ECI), Google is making it simpler for voters to find essential details about the election process, like registration and voting procedures, in both English and Hindi through Google Search.

The tech giant is tightening its grip on election advertisements. Advertisers aiming to showcase their election ads on Google’s platforms are now required to pass an identity verification process and obtain a pre-certification from the ECI or its authorized representatives. Ads will also need to disclose clearly who’s footing the bill.

Google is taking a firm stance against ads that spread false claims, potentially harming election integrity. Additionally, it’s implementing restrictions on election-related searches that Gemini AI can respond to, aiming to curb the spread of misinformation.

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A notable step includes embedding a ‘SynthID’ watermark on images generated through Google products, a feature developed by Google DeepMind to track AI-generated content. YouTube is stepping up by mandating creators to flag any altered or synthetic content realistically, complemented by a label for viewers to identify such content easily.

Google is also deploying information panels to clarify the funding sources of publishers and provide context on topics vulnerable to misinformation. Behind the scenes, Google combines AI with human oversight to detect and eliminate policy-violating content, leveraging a multilingual team of experts to add relevant context around the clock.

In addition to its efforts, Google is also supporting ‘Shakti’, the India Election Fact-Checking Collective, enhancing the combined efforts of news publishers and fact checkers nationwide to ensure a well-informed electorate.

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