The UK general election is being closely monitored due to concerns about the impact of rapid technological advancements, particularly in AI, and growing tensions between major countries on the integrity of the upcoming 2024 elections.
In April, Amnesty International’s Agnes Callamard warned about the dangers of unregulated technological developments that can be used for discrimination, disinformation, and division.
The UK election on July 4, four months ahead of the United States’ election, is seen as a testing ground for election security, with cyber-security experts like Bruce Snell emphasizing the importance of AI and the persistent threat of more traditional cyber-attacks.
State actors, particularly China and Russia, are expected to be the main threat to the election, aiming to promote specific candidates or agendas and create internal instability.
While the UK has advantages in terms of the short election timeline and manual voting system that reduce vulnerability, hacking of institutions and individuals remains a concern, with incidents of impersonation and dissemination of misinformation.
– Deepfakes –
The use of AI to create and distribute deepfakes, including fake videos and audio, is a major concern for this year’s elections, as it can be used to manipulate public opinion and spread false information.
Authorities are advised to raise awareness about the threat of deepfakes and other AI-generated misinformation, as well as the use of bots to manipulate social media discussions.
There is a growing need for the AI industry and social media platforms to take responsibility in addressing these issues and preventing the spread of misinformation in elections.
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