'A nightmare scenario': New ad warns of misleading AI ahead of Election Day
News & Politics
Introduction
In the lead-up to the 2024 election, a group of high-profile celebrities, including Amy Schumer and Michael Douglas, is sounding the alarm about the potential dangers posed by deceptive technology, particularly deep fake videos. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly accessible, experts warn that these AI-generated videos could be used to mislead the public about critical information regarding when, where, and how to vote.
The new Public Service Announcement (PSA), released today, aims to raise awareness about the threat of deep fakes in manipulating voter behavior. A notable instance exemplifying this issue occurred in January, when a deep fake video featuring President Biden’s voice was distributed to 50,000 Democratic voters in advance of the New Hampshire primary. The political consultant behind the incident was charged with felonies, but experts fear that such deceptive tactics could be more prevalent in the upcoming election.
The PSA features several well-known actors and personalities, including Rosario Dawson, Chrock Laura D, and Jonathan Scott, and advocates for public vigilance against deep fake attempts at voter suppression. According to the ad, bad actors may use fake phone calls, videos, or messages pretending to be from trustworthy sources to mislead voters, possibly suggesting extended voting hours or changes to polling locations due to emergencies.
Miles Taylor, a former Homeland Security official and a part of the nonpartisan group Represent Us, describes deep fakes as the “new spam” that aims to deceive voters. Joshua Graham Linn, the group's CEO, highlights the ease with which convincing fake videos can be produced, urging voters to be cautious. "Just changing a few votes in one District could tip the whole election," he asserts.
As Americans approach the election, experts encourage voters to seek information exclusively from official sources and to be skeptical if something seems amiss. Voters should rely primarily on state and local election boards, secretaries of state, and county election officials for accurate information about the voting process.
Keywords
- Deep fake
- AI-generated videos
- Voter suppression
- Misinformation
- Election security
- Public Service Announcement
- Election officials
FAQ
Q: What are deep fakes?
A: Deep fakes are AI-generated videos or audio recordings that can convincingly imitate real individuals, often used to spread misinformation.
Q: Who is involved in the campaign against voting misinformation?
A: Celebrities such as Amy Schumer and Michael Douglas have teamed up with the nonpartisan group Represent Us to raise awareness about the dangers of deep fakes.
Q: How can voters verify accurate information about elections?
A: Voters should seek information from official sources such as state and local election boards, secretaries of state, and county election officials.
Q: What should voters do if they encounter suspicious information?
A: If something seems off or suspicious, voters should refrain from acting on that information and double-check with official sources.