Share the post "How Artificial Intelligence Influences Elections, and What We Can Do About It"
The 2024 election will be the first where AI plays a significant role in influencing voters, creating both opportunities and risks for democracy. AI will impact voters before, during, and after ballots are cast, from shaping public messages about candidates to influencing perceptions of the election process.
The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) is addressing AI’s impact by educating the public and advocating for policies to manage AI-related threats to elections. CLC has highlighted the risk of AI-generated “deepfakes” — fake media that can convincingly show people saying or doing things they didn’t — which could deceive voters about candidates and sway election outcomes. AI could also disrupt elections by spreading disinformation, such as false voting instructions that could discourage voter turnout.
In one case, an AI-generated robocall imitated President Biden’s voice to mislead New Hampshire voters about when to vote, demonstrating the potential for AI-driven voter suppression. If unchecked, AI could produce more deceptive messages or false emergencies to prevent voting, and it could disproportionately target marginalized communities with disinformation.
Efforts are underway at both state and federal levels to counter these threats, including laws requiring disclaimers on AI content in political ads and bans on deepfake use. Federal agencies are also exploring solutions, such as the FCC’s recent ban on certain AI-generated robocalls after the New Hampshire incident. Major tech companies, including Google and Meta, have pledged to address deepfakes, though they must follow through.
Despite growing support, most policies are still in development. CLC urges lawmakers to act decisively to protect democracy from the unique challenges AI poses.
Sources:
https://news.emory.edu/features/2024/09/emag_ai_elections_25-09-2024/index.html
https://protectdemocracy.org/work/generative-ai-make-election-threats-worse/
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/03/ai-campaigns-nonprofit-misinformation-00119579
This blog post was generated with assistance from GPT-4