A surge of AI-driven political disinformation, including deepfake videos targeting Kamala Harris, manipulated clips of Joe Biden, and doctored images of Donald Trump, has raised concerns about potential voter manipulation as the US presidential election approaches.
With the upcoming November election labeled as America’s first AI election, researchers are worried that technology-enabled fake content could influence voters’ decisions and exacerbate existing tensions in a highly polarized environment.
The recent spread of disinformation has led to calls for tech companies to strengthen regulations around generative artificial intelligence in order to prevent abuse during the election.
Elon Musk recently faced backlash for sharing a deepfake video featuring Vice President Harris with his large following on social media platform X. The video falsely portrayed Harris criticizing President Biden, which Musk later clarified was meant as satire.
Researchers are concerned that such deepfakes could mislead viewers and manipulate public opinion.
Various instances of AI-generated fake content have been debunked, including a manipulated video of Biden cursing his critics, and a doctored image of Trump being arrested, both of which were proven to be fake.
– ‘Partisan tension’ –
Experts warn that the use of deepfakes in politics to provoke anger and worsen partisan tensions is a growing concern. AI tools have been demonstrated to manipulate voter turnout and disseminate false information through social media platforms.
– ‘Tipping point’ –
Observers caution that widespread AI-driven disinformation could fuel public anger and distrust in the electoral process. A poll last year found that a majority of Americans expect AI-fueled falsehoods to impact future elections, leading to decreased trust in election results.
To combat the spread of AI-generated fake content, advocacy groups have called on tech companies to strengthen their policies against deepfakes and promote factual election content.
The current online environment is flooded with misinformation, and it is crucial for platforms to take action to prevent the spread of deepfakes and other deceptive content during this critical election period.
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