AI-Powered Misinformation Emerges as Major Threat to Democratic Elections Worldwide
As nations around the world prepare for pivotal elections in 2024, a concerning new challenge has emerged – the rise of AI-generated misinformation and deepfakes that aim to mislead voters and undermine the democratic process, the Associated Press suggested in an article published yesterday.
This alarming trend was exemplified recently in India, where viral videos purportedly showing Bollywood stars criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi were revealed to be AI-generated fakes, the source added.
“A non-discerning user or regular user has no idea whether it’s someone, an individual sharing his or her thoughts on the other end, or is it a bot?” noted voter Rekha Singh.
Experts warn that such AI-powered disinformation will proliferate across the globe, posing a serious threat to the integrity of elections. “AI deepfakes will aim to mislead voters and undermine elections around the world,” they caution.
In response, governments and organizations have taken action. The U.S. FCC outlawed the use of AI-generated voices in robocalls, while major tech firms have signed an accord to prevent AI misuse in elections.
However, researchers argue that platforms like Meta and YouTube have failed to adequately enforce their own policies, creating an environment rife with harmful content.
“The platforms are earning money off of this. They are benefiting from it, and the whole country is paying the price,” said an Indian law professor Ritumbra Manuvie.
As India prepares for its mammoth national election, the challenge of verifying truth from fiction has never been more critical. For first-time voter Ankita Jasra, “these uncertainties can make it hard to know what to believe.”
