New Delhi, Feb 20 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday raised serious concerns over the growing menace of deepfakes and misinformation, describing them as significant threats to democratic institutions and public trust. He asserted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) must serve as an instrument to strengthen truth and credibility rather than distort or suppress facts.
Addressing a special session on the theme “AI for Democracy” at the India AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam, Birla emphasized the urgent need to build robust safeguards alongside technological advancements to protect democratic discourse from manipulation and confusion.
“AI is a means, not an end,” Birla said, underscoring that technology must remain aligned with human values and ethical standards. “Human sensitivity, democratic principles and moral judgment must guide the development and deployment of emerging technologies.”
Highlighting AI’s transformative potential, Birla noted that technology can make democracy more transparent, accountable and citizen-centric. He reiterated that India’s guiding philosophy of “Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya”—for the welfare and happiness of all—continues to shape its governance approach.
He pointed to the “Digital Parliament” initiative as a key example of leveraging AI for institutional efficiency. Under the programme, parliamentary proceedings have been made paperless, modern and environmentally sustainable. AI-powered tools have organized thousands of hours of debates and legislative records, making them searchable and easily accessible to the public.
“This enhances transparency and enables citizens to closely monitor the performance of their elected representatives, thereby increasing accountability,” he said, adding that the initiative has helped bridge the digital and information divide in a diverse country like India.
Referring to India’s vast linguistic diversity, Birla highlighted the “Sansad Bhashini” initiative, which uses AI-enabled translation tools to make parliamentary debates available in multiple regional languages. The initiative allows citizens to access legislative discussions in their native languages, fostering greater participation and trust in the democratic process.
He noted that India’s efforts to integrate AI into legislative functioning have been widely appreciated at international parliamentary forums, including engagements involving presiding officers and global institutions such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Birla said India’s AI strategy is anchored in inclusive development and is critical to achieving the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047.” He outlined AI’s transformative role in sectors such as education, healthcare and agriculture, particularly in improving service delivery and empowering underserved communities.
“By enhancing access to quality education, improving healthcare systems and equipping farmers with data-driven solutions, AI can transform millions of lives,” he said.
He also highlighted India’s digital public infrastructure as a model studied globally for its scale, inclusivity and efficiency. Reaffirming India’s commitment to global well-being, he said the country remains ready to share its digital innovations and technological expertise with the international community.
While advocating rapid technological adoption, Birla cautioned against overreliance on automation. “Technology cannot replace human compassion and ethical judgment,” he said, calling for the nurturing of a generation that combines technological expertise with strong moral foundations.
Expressing confidence in the deliberations at the summit, Birla said discussions at the “AI for Democracy” session would help shape a future where innovation and democratic values advance together, paving the way for a strong, inclusive and developed India by 2047.
The programme was jointly organized by Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Several dignitaries, including the UK’s Minister for AI & Online Safety, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Hungary and the Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, also addressed the gathering.
