Main Topic: Increasing use of AI in manipulative information campaigns online.
Key Points:
1. Mandiant has observed the use of AI-generated content in politically-motivated online influence campaigns since 2019.
2. Generative AI models make it easier to create convincing fake videos, images, text, and code, posing a threat.
3. While the impact of these campaigns has been limited so far, AI's role in digital intrusions is expected to grow in the future.
Experts at UVA Center for Politics warn about the risks of using artificial intelligence and deepfakes to manipulate elections.
AI Algorithms Battle Russian Disinformation Campaigns on Social Media
A mysterious individual known as Nea Paw has developed an AI-powered project called CounterCloud to combat mass-produced AI disinformation. In response to tweets from Russian media outlets and the Chinese embassy that criticized the US, CounterCloud produced tweets, articles, and even journalists and news sites that were entirely generated by AI algorithms. Paw believes that the project highlights the danger of easily accessible generative AI tools being used for state-backed propaganda. While some argue that educating users about manipulative AI-generated content or equipping browsers with AI-detection tools could mitigate the issue, Paw believes that these solutions are not effective or elegant. Disinformation researchers have long warned about the potential of AI language models being used for personalized propaganda campaigns and influencing social media users. Evidence of AI-powered disinformation campaigns has already emerged, with academic researchers uncovering a botnet powered by AI language model ChatGPT. Legitimate political campaigns, such as the Republican National Committee, have also utilized AI-generated content, including fake images. AI-generated text can still be fairly generic, but with human finesse, it becomes highly effective and difficult to detect using automated filters. OpenAI has expressed concern about its technology being utilized to create tailored automated disinformation at a large scale, and while it has updated its policies to restrict political usage, it remains a challenge to block the generation of such material effectively. As AI tools become increasingly accessible, society must become aware of their presence in politics and protect against their misuse.
Deceptive generative AI-based political ads are becoming a growing concern, making it easier to sell lies and increasing the need for news organizations to understand and report on these ads.
Generative AI is being used to create misinformation that is increasingly difficult to distinguish from reality, posing significant threats such as manipulating public opinion, disrupting democratic processes, and eroding trust, with experts advising skepticism, attention to detail, and not sharing potentially AI-generated content to combat this issue.
AI technology is making it easier and cheaper to produce mass-scale propaganda campaigns and disinformation, using generative AI tools to create convincing articles, tweets, and even journalist profiles, raising concerns about the spread of AI-powered fake content and the need for mitigation strategies.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, have the potential to supercharge disinformation campaigns in the 2024 elections, increasing the quantity, quality, and personalization of false information distributed to voters, but there are limitations to their effectiveness and platforms are working to mitigate the risks.
Artificial intelligence will play a significant role in the 2024 elections, making the production of disinformation easier but ultimately having less impact than anticipated, while paranoid nationalism corrupts global politics by scaremongering and abusing power.
AI-generated deepfakes have the potential to manipulate elections, but research suggests that the polarized state of American politics may actually inoculate voters against misinformation regardless of its source.
This podcast episode from The Economist discusses the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the 2024 elections, the use of scaremongering tactics by cynical leaders, and the current trend of people wanting to own airlines.
Google will require verified election advertisers to disclose when their ads have been digitally altered, including through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), in an effort to promote transparency and responsible political advertising.
Chinese operatives have used AI-generated images to spread disinformation and provoke discussion on divisive political issues in the US as the 2024 election approaches, according to Microsoft analysts, raising concerns about the potential for foreign interference in US elections.
AI on social media platforms, both as a tool for manipulation and for detection, is seen as a potential threat to voter sentiment in the upcoming US presidential elections, with China-affiliated actors leveraging AI-generated visual media to emphasize politically divisive topics, while companies like Accrete AI are employing AI to detect and predict disinformation threats in real-time.
China is employing artificial intelligence to manipulate American voters through the dissemination of AI-generated visuals and content, according to a report by Microsoft.
Concerns about artificial intelligence and democracy are assessed, with fears over AI's potential to undermine democracy explored, including the threat posed by Chinese misinformation campaigns and the call for AI regulation by Senator Josh Hawley.
With the rise of AI-generated "Deep Fakes," there is a clear and present danger of these manipulated videos and photos being used to deceive voters in the upcoming elections, making it crucial to combat this disinformation for the sake of election integrity and national security.
Government agencies at the state and city levels in the United States are exploring the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline bureaucratic processes, but they also face unique challenges related to transparency and accountability, such as ensuring accuracy, protecting sensitive information, and avoiding the spread of misinformation. Policies and guidelines are being developed to regulate the use of generative AI in government work, with a focus on disclosure, fact checking, and human review of AI-generated content.
More than half of Americans believe that misinformation spread by artificial intelligence (AI) will impact the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, with supporters of both former President Trump and President Biden expressing concerns about the influence of AI on election results.
Generative AI can be used to create unbiased representations of politicians based on text prompts, generating images that often reflect regional stereotypes.
Generative AI is empowering fraudsters with sophisticated new tools, enabling them to produce convincing scam texts, clone voices, and manipulate videos, posing serious threats to individuals and businesses.
AI-generated deepfakes pose serious challenges for policymakers, as they can be used for political propaganda, incite violence, create conflicts, and undermine democracy, highlighting the need for regulation and control over AI technology.
AI-generated images have the potential to create alternative history and misinformation, raising concerns about their impact on elections and people's ability to discern truth from manipulated visuals.
The European Union is warning about the risks posed by widely accessible generative AI tools in relation to disinformation and elections, calling on platforms to implement safeguards and urging ChatGPT maker OpenAI to take action to address these risks. The EU's voluntary Code of Practice on Disinformation is being used as a temporary measure until the upcoming AI Act is adopted, which will make user disclosures a legal requirement for AI technologies.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to facilitate deceptive practices such as deepfake videos and misleading ads, posing a threat to American democracy, according to experts who testified before the U.S. Senate Rules Committee.
The proliferation of fake news generated by AI algorithms poses a threat to media outlets and their ability to differentiate between true and false information, highlighting the need for human curation and the potential consequences of relying solely on algorithms.
Minnesota Democrats are calling for regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) in elections, expressing concerns about the potential for AI to deceive and manipulate voters, while also acknowledging its potential benefits for efficiency and productivity in election administration.
The use of AI, including deepfakes, by political leaders around the world is on the rise, with at least 16 countries deploying deepfakes for political gain, according to a report from Freedom House, leading to concerns over the spread of disinformation, censorship, and the undermining of public trust in the democratic process.
China's use of artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate social media and shape global public opinion poses a growing threat to democracies, as generative AI allows for the creation of more effective and believable content at a lower cost, with implications for the 2024 elections.
Lawmakers are calling on social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, to take action against AI-generated political ads that could spread election-related misinformation and disinformation, ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Google has already announced new labeling requirements for deceptive AI-generated political advertisements.
The corruption of the information ecosystem, the spread of lies faster than facts, and the weaponization of AI in large language models pose significant threats to democracy and elections around the world.
Artificial intelligence chatbots and deepfake technology pose a threat to the European Union's 2024 election by disseminating disinformation online, according to the bloc's cybersecurity agency ENISA. They warned that governments, the private sector, and the media should remain vigilant to detect, debunk, and combat AI-generated disinformation ahead of the upcoming European Parliament election. ENISA also highlighted an "unprecedented surge" in cyberattacks targeting the EU, including ransomware attacks and distributed denial-of-service attacks.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to create fake audio and video content for political ads, raising concerns about the potential for misinformation and manipulation in elections. While some states have enacted laws against deepfake content, federal regulations are limited, and there are debates about the balance between regulation and free speech rights. Experts advise viewers to be skeptical of AI-generated content and look for inconsistencies in audio and visual cues to identify fakes. Larger ad firms are generally cautious about engaging in such practices, but anonymous individuals can easily create and disseminate deceptive content.
Misleading campaign ads are becoming more deceptive with the use of AI-generated images, video, and audio to manipulate voter perceptions.
Artificial intelligence and deepfakes are posing a significant challenge in the fight against misinformation during times of war, as demonstrated by the Russo-Ukrainian War, where AI-generated videos created confusion and distrust among the public and news media, even if they were eventually debunked. However, there is a need for deepfake literacy in the media and the general public to better discern real from fake content, as public trust in all media from conflicts may be eroded.
The Israel-Hamas conflict is being exacerbated by artificial intelligence (AI), which is generating a flood of misinformation and propaganda on social media, making it difficult for users to discern what is real and what is fake. AI-generated images and videos are being used to spread agitative propaganda, deceive the public, and target specific groups. The rise of unregulated AI tools is an "experiment on ourselves," according to experts, and there is a lack of effective tools to quickly identify and combat AI-generated content. Social media platforms are struggling to keep up with the problem, leading to the widespread dissemination of false information.
