Misinformation Tactics Escalate During Election Season, Analysis Reveals

False information campaigns targeting electoral processes have intensified in recent months, with a comprehensive analysis revealing sophisticated patterns of misinformation during the 2025 Bihar elections and surrounding the Special Information Revision (SIR) process.

The Bihar elections became a particular hotspot for misinformation, accounting for 39 percent of verified fact-checks conducted between July and November. This surge occurred even before allegations of vote “chori” (theft) dominated national headlines, indicating a coordinated effort to undermine electoral integrity well in advance of polling day.

Investigators identified three distinct categories of misinformation circulating in Bihar. The first category exploited religious and identity-based tensions, with fabricated statements designed to inflame communal divisions. One prominent example included a falsified quote attributed to Home Minister Amit Shah claiming the BJP refuses to give electoral tickets to Muslim candidates – a statement Shah never made.

The second category involved the repurposing of international footage to create false narratives about local events. Fact-checkers discovered videos from Indonesia being circulated as evidence of anti-BJP protests in Bihar, demonstrating how foreign content can be weaponized to create impressions of domestic unrest.

The third category focused on spreading misinformation about political platforms, with fake manifestos and policy claims attributed to various parties. One notable example claimed the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance had promised to legalize beef consumption – a particularly divisive claim in a region where cattle slaughter remains a sensitive religious issue.

Beyond Bihar, the analysis revealed a troubling trend of falsified content targeting national political figures. Three fact-checked instances involved manipulated videos and AI-generated content misrepresenting high-profile politicians. In one case, an edited clip showed children supposedly accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of electoral fraud during what was actually a routine interaction.

The announcement of the Special Information Revision (SIR) for voter lists added another dimension to existing misinformation networks. The legitimate administrative exercise quickly became fodder for partisan narratives from across the political spectrum.

Opposition-aligned accounts increasingly characterized the SIR as evidence of systematic voter disenfranchisement, claiming that eligible voters were being deliberately purged from electoral rolls. These narratives built upon existing suspicions about electoral integrity, giving them new momentum in public discourse.

Simultaneously, pro-government accounts constructed an entirely different narrative around the same process. Particularly in West Bengal, these accounts linked the voter list revisions to the identification and removal of alleged undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh. Fact-checkers noted that these claims persisted despite the absence of concrete evidence connecting the SIR to immigration enforcement.

Digital media analysts point out that these divergent narratives illustrate how even routine electoral administration can be weaponized in today’s information environment. “We’re seeing the same events interpreted through completely different frames depending on political alignment,” explained one expert who requested anonymity. “The danger is that citizens trying to understand electoral processes are confronted with contradictory information, making it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.”

The findings highlight growing concerns about the integrity of information ecosystems during electoral periods. While fact-checking efforts have expanded to combat false claims, the sophistication and volume of misinformation present ongoing challenges for voters, election administrators, and democracy advocates.

Election Commission officials have emphasized the importance of media literacy and encouraged voters to verify information through official channels. However, as political battles increasingly extend into information spaces, the task of maintaining an informed electorate faces unprecedented hurdles.

As Bihar’s election results are processed and attention shifts to upcoming electoral contests, the patterns identified in this analysis suggest that misinformation tactics are likely to remain a significant factor in India’s political landscape.