Sun Dec 28 17:06:35 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
A recent analysis of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections reveals a critical gap in India’s election regulations. While laws focus on parties and candidates, digital campaigns are increasingly influenced by unregulated third-party actors (campaign firms, influencers, interest groups). These actors often outspend and out-reach official channels, blurring the lines of transparency and accountability. The Election Commission’s existing rules, focused on pre-poll certification and disclosures, are inadequate in addressing the scope and timing of digital influence. Furthermore, there is evidence of third-party entities directly funding advertisements on official party pages, raising concerns about undisclosed financial contributions. This poses a threat to fair digital democracy.
News Article:
India’s Election Rules Lag Behind Digital Campaign Reality, Report Finds
New Delhi – December 28, 2025: A new report analyzing the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections has revealed a growing disconnect between India’s election regulations and the reality of digital campaigning. The analysis, published today, highlights the increasing influence of unregulated third-party actors such as campaign firms and influencers, on election outcomes, which are outstripping that of official political parties.
The report points out that existing rules primarily target parties and candidates, but do not sufficiently regulate campaign firms and influencers, operating outside formal structures. This means that these actors can wield significant influence, even outspending and out-reaching official channels, without the same level of scrutiny.
Data from the Bihar elections showed that third-party advertisers, while spending roughly the same amount as parties and candidates, achieved nearly twice the impressions. This indicates that communicative power in online elections lies increasingly beyond officially regulated channels.
Further concerning, the report found instances of third-party entities directly funding advertisements on official party pages. This raises questions about hidden financial contributions and the true financial footprint of digital campaigning. Current regulations do not require parties to disclose who spends money on their behalf, creating a loophole for unaccounted influence.
The analysis also criticizes the Election Commission’s (EC) temporal focus, with restrictions primarily activating in the days leading up to the election. This fails to address the sustained digital exposure that builds over months, rendering late-stage regulations ineffective.
“Our analysis showed that the old regulations are inadequate against a dynamic campaign ecosystem,” Abhishek Sharma a senior political and policy researcher stated. “Without an update, there is a threat to a fair digital democracy.”
The report calls for an urgent recalibration of electoral regulations to extend accountability beyond parties and candidates, ensuring transparency and fairness in the digital age.
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