Based on the search results, it appears that the 2024 elections are at serious risk of being disrupted by the proliferation of AI-generated deepfakes:
- Deepfakes, which are highly realistic AI-generated audio, images, and videos, are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. This poses a major threat to the integrity of the 2024 elections, as deepfakes can be used to spread misinformation and disinformation that could manipulate voters [1][2][4][6][7].
- For example, a deepfake robocall imitating President Biden’s voice reached nearly 5,000 New Hampshire voters before the state’s primary, attempting to discourage voting[8].
- Experts have “war-gamed” scenarios where deepfakes are used to spread false information about polling place closures, ballot tampering, and other election-related issues. This could sow confusion and distrust in the electoral process [4].
- There are concerns that federal, state, and local authorities, as well as tech companies, may not be fully prepared to detect and respond to deepfake-fueled disinformation campaigns in time for the 2024 elections [4].
- Efforts are underway to develop public education campaigns and regulatory measures to address the deepfake threat, but the pace of technological change may outpace these efforts [4].
- State legislation: More than a dozen states have passed laws regulating AI in politics, with deepfake-related bills introduced in over 40 states in 2024[6].
- Federal agency action: The Federal Election Commission and Federal Communication Commission are working on regulations for AI-generated content in political ads[6].
- Tech company initiatives: Platforms like TikTok, Meta, and YouTube have announced plans to label AI-generated content[6].
- Election official training: Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes collaborated with experts to prepare local election officials for AI-based disruptions through simulated exercises[9].
- Public education: Microsoft and other organizations are conducting workshops to improve AI literacy among voters and officials[9]. While the threat is serious, experts emphasize the importance of voter resilience and skepticism. Ginny Badanes from Microsoft’s Democracy Forward program suggests that consumer literacy can help “immunize” voters against deception[9]
In summary, the search results indicate that the 2024 elections are highly vulnerable to disruption from AI-generated deepfakes, and there are serious concerns that this could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and its outcomes [1][2][4]. While AI-generated deepfakes present a significant challenge to the 2024 elections, various stakeholders are actively working to mitigate the risks through legislation, regulation, education, and technological solutions.
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[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/04/23/ai-deepfake-election-2024-us-india/
[2] https://theconversation.com/deepfakes-are-still-new-but-2024-could-be-the-year-they-have-an-impact-on-elections-224786
[3] https://farid.berkeley.edu/deepfakes2024election/
[4] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/war-game-deepfakes-disrupt-2024-election-rcna143038
[5] https://www.theverge.com/policy/24098798/2024-election-ai-generated-disinformation
[6] https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/31/politics/state-laws-election-ai-deepfakes/index.html
[7] https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-local-races-deepfakes-2024-1d5080a5c916d5ff10eadd1d81f43dfd
[8] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/19/a-lack-of-trust-how-deepfakes-and-ai-could-rattle-the-us-elections
[9] https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2024/07/16/rnc-microsoft-warns-ai-deepfakes-election-2024/
[10] https://www.npr.org/2024/02/08/1229641751/ai-deepfakes-election-risks-lawmakers-tech-companies-artificial-intelligence
