Deepfakes and Democracy: A Looming Threat to Elections
“As a nation, we are woefully underprepared”
Recent usage of artificial intelligence (AI) to produce deepfakes that threw off the Slovak election serves as a sharp reminder of the ways in which technology breakthroughs can affect society, politics, and the legal system. This incident portends a troubling future in which disinformation produced by AI may be crucial to political processes everywhere, even in the US.
Implications for Law and the Constitution
The production and propagation of deepfakes present formidable legal obstacles. The subtleties of AI-generated content are frequently not adequately addressed by current legislation. Determining and controlling deepfakes is a problem for the legal system, especially when it comes to those intended to sway elections. The deepfake recordings in Slovakia changed the public's opinion of a front-runner, which may have affected the result of the election. This instance emphasises how urgently strong legal frameworks are needed to recognise, limit, and criminalise the use of AI to disseminate false information.
The United States' current legal framework is insufficient to combat the sophisticated nature of deepfakes produced by artificial intelligence. The difficulties of modifying legislation to address AI-manipulated media are highlighted by the Federal Election Commission's (FEC) current discussions on the subject. Moreover, the differentiation between foreign and local entities involved in the production and dissemination of deepfakes introduces an additional stratum of legal intricacy, so complicating the reaction of law enforcement and national security organisations.
Technological Impact and Its Significance
The episode surrounding the Slovak election shows how deepfakes can damage democracy by reducing public confidence in political figures and establishments. False audio recordings went viral and changed the political scene, favouring a pro-Russian candidate over a pro-NATO one. This use of AI to sway public opinion serves as an example of how technology might influence political results.
The consequences are grave in the United States. There is growing concern among national security officials that deepfakes created by artificial intelligence could sabotage the 2024 presidential election. Although steps are being taken to counter this threat, it appears that the nation is not up to the task due to a lack of resources and inconsistent laws throughout the states. Deepfakes are a powerful tool in political campaigns that can sway voter behaviour and foster division and disinformation.
Human rights and societal concerns
Human rights and social cohesiveness are seriously threatened by the widespread use of deepfakes. Mistrust of democratic institutions and social unrest can result from the incorrect impression that content has been distorted. The deepfake recordings in Slovakia exacerbated rifts in the electorate by taking use of pre-existing conspiracy ideas. Similarly, AI-generated misinformation has already been used to attack political personalities in the United States, undermining public confidence and aiding in the propagation of false narratives.
Furthermore, using deepfakes to disparage political politicians may have long-term effects on one's reputation both personally and professionally. For example, a deepfake that misrepresented Paul Vallas's position on police funding was directed against him as a mayoral candidate in Chicago, potentially affecting the outcome of the election. The democratic process and political campaigns are compromised by these kinds of attacks, which emphasises the necessity of taking precautions to shield candidates from misinformation produced by artificial intelligence.
Elections in the Future and Reform Initiatives
States and nations make varying amounts of effort to counteract the influence of deepfakes on elections. While certain jurisdictions in the United jurisdictions have passed rules to control deepfakes during elections, these regulations are frequently insufficient and inconsistent. For example, some states have yet to enact explicit legislation, but others, like Minnesota, have made it illegal to deliberately distribute deepfakes meant to harm a candidate. This piecemeal strategy highlights the necessity of comprehensive federal legislation to counter the threat of artificial intelligence in elections.
Globally, the issue is made worse by social media platforms' absence of regulation. The difficulty in regulating AI-generated content is demonstrated by the proliferation of deepfakes during the Slovak election on websites like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. To avoid having a negative influence on elections, these platforms must put in place more efficient methods for quickly identifying and eliminating deepfakes.
Final Thoughts
The Slovak election's deployment of deepfakes should serve as a grave caution to all democracies across the world. Disinformation produced by AI presents serious legal and political issues that need immediate attention and resolution. To preserve democratic processes and election integrity, strong legislative frameworks, uniform rules, and cutting-edge technical solutions are necessary. In order to lessen the impact of deepfakes and protect the core tenets of democracy, preventative steps must be implemented in light of the impending elections.
Read full article here: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/01/politics/election-deepfake-threats-invs/index.html