Artificial intelligence-generated media has started to appear in political campaigns in over fifty countries, with a range of functions it can play from benign to beneficial.
Examining how AI is being used in this year’s key international elections offers Americans insight into what to expect in elections and how legislators, election officials, and civil society ought to become ready.
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Effects of AI Elections
It is obvious that artificial intelligence technology has the potential to exacerbate election-related issues worse, such as the propagation of misinformation and cyber vulnerabilities in election systems. To protect the electorate from such dangers, governments and civil society organizations should collaborate.
Strategies include quick fixes such as releasing accurate information and bolstering internet security and laws including stringent prohibitions on dishonest online political advertising.
However, in doing so, advocates and legislators should consider the different ways AI is being used in the political process and create nuanced strategies that highlight the worst effects without unreasonably restricting political speech. The risks AI poses to democratic processes are becoming obvious in the US and numerous other countries.
AI-generated robocalls that mimicked the voice of President Biden, for example, were used earlier this year to target voters in New Hampshire and discourage them from casting ballots in the primary.
An artificial intelligence generated image purporting to show former president Trump alongside convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and a small child went viral on Twitter earlier this year.
Use of AI Deepfakes in AI Elections
Apart from home, deepfakes were circulating during the Slovakian election last year, discrediting the leader of a political party and maybe tipping the results in favor of his opponent, who supports Russia. It appears that the Chinese government attempted to influence the Taiwanese election in January by using AI deepfakes.
AI flood of dangerous AI-generated content is emerging in Britain in advance of the July 4 election. In one Deepfake, Sarah Campbell, a BBC newsreader, was shown pretending that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was endorsing a fraudulent investment website.
Deepfakes of prominent politicians who have passed away and are appealing to voters as though they are still alive have gained prominence as a campaign tactic as the Indian general election starts underway. However, there are situations where using deepfakes and other AI technologies becomes difficult.
For example, Indonesia’s front-runner for president, a retired general, used an AI-generated cartoon to provide him with himself seem relatable in order to win over younger people. Given his involvement in the military rule in the country, this caused some people to question things, although there was no overt dishonesty involved.
Imran Khan, the opposition leader imprisoned in Pakistan, defied attempts by his political opponents to silence him by addressing his fans via an AI-generated video. The beleaguered opposition in Belarus even fielded an AI-generated candidate for the national assembly.
The candidate, who is a chatbot posing as a 35-year-old Minsk native, is a part of an advocacy program aimed at assisting the opposition, a number of whom have fled Belarus, in reaching out to voters there.
How to Reduce Risks Associated With AI Elections?
In order to empower voters to distinguish truth from falsehoods, governments and civil society organizations should disseminate accurate information about the voting process. This can be done by establishing rapid reaction teams to combat false information and by launching public education campaigns.
When possible, these initiatives have to be carried out in tandem with social media platforms and significant players in the electoral process, including political parties and candidates.
The Brennan Center advises election authorities wishing to implement new AI tools to assist in conducting elections to consider their options before acting in any particular instance.
In the event that they decide to move forward, they should incorporate straightforward, efficient procedures with the required human supervision, providing openness and record-keeping. They should provide thorough training for their employees and backup plans in case any of the systems they use break.
This ought to promote the responsible and safe use of AI tools by including regular reviews and modifications based on feedback and performance data. Legislators should use caution and sensitivity when drafting laws to combat deepfakes and AI-generated media during elections.
Transparency is critical in the face of misinformation and malicious media, as evidenced by numerous state statutes and proposed legislation in the US Congress. This could guard against the dangers to the election process and promise that voters are educated about the veracity of the communications they hear.
Transparency alone, meanwhile, is not always enough because labels can be removed or ignored. In order to combat detrimental content, such as content meant to mislead voters about the where, when, and how to cast their ballots, targeted prohibitions might be required.
Conclusion: AI Elections
Artificial intelligence generated deepfakes and other synthetic media present significant risks to elections, but they can be used to promote innovative political discourse.
In order to respond to the use of AI in ways that mitigate the worst possible effects of deceptive AI without unduly burdening legitimate political and other forms of speech, policymakers should carefully consider these competing interests.
Deepfake tools are becoming sophisticated and widely available, which puts the democratic process at serious risk globally. In addition to upholding free speech and political actors’ rights to experiment with new ways of reaching voters, legislators should acknowledge the gravity of the problem and move decisively.
FAQs: AI Elections
What is the role of AI in elections?
The role of AI in elections has become significant as we approach the 2024 elections. AI technologies are used for various purposes, including analyzing voter behavior, optimizing political advertising, and even assisting election officials in managing logistics.
Machine learning algorithms can process vast amounts of data to identify trends and preferences among voters. However, the use of AI raises concerns about disinformation and deceptive tactics.
How can AI be used to protect elections?
AI can be leveraged to protect elections by enhancing election integrity. For example, AI systems can detect patterns of fraudulent activities, such as unusual voting behaviors or anomalies in election-related data.
AI tools can help monitor social media platforms for the spread of disinformation and misinformation during the election year. By proactively identifying these threats, election officials can mitigate risks and maintain a fair electoral process.
What are deepfakes and how do they affect elections?
Deepfakes are a form of synthetic media created using generative AI techniques, which can produce realistic but fake content, including videos and audio.
The use of deepfakes in political communication poses a significant risk during elections, as they can be used to deceive voters through the dissemination of false information about candidates or policies. This can lead to a loss of trust in the electoral process and undermine election integrity.
What are the risks of AI-generated content during elections?
The risks associated with AI-generated content during elections include the potential for disinformation campaigns aimed at misleading the public.
