UPDATE: Telecommunications firm Lingo Telecom agreed to pay a $1 million fine after the Federal Communications Commission sought enforcement action against the company for transmitting fake robocalls imitating President Joe Biden

AI Deepfake Robocall Impersonating Biden Shakes NH Primary

Meta Description: Explore the impact of a deepfake robocall imitating President Biden in the New Hampshire primary, raising concerns about AI in elections and the need for regulation.

Summary

A deepfake robocall impersonating President Joe Biden has caused significant disturbance in the New Hampshire primary, highlighting the growing threat of AI-generated content in politics. The call, which discouraged voters from participating in the Tuesday primaries, has sparked fears about the potential for AI to spread disinformation and interfere with electoral processes.

The incident has drawn attention to the regulatory gaps surrounding AI accountability and transparency. While tech companies have made voluntary commitments to watermark AI-manipulated content, concrete legislation lags behind the rapid advancements in technology. Senators and Representatives have proposed bills to ban deceptive AI content in political contexts and require disclosure of AI use in political ads.

Experts warn that audio deepfakes are particularly dangerous due to their ability to bypass visual cues that might indicate manipulation. The ease and low cost of producing convincing fake audio raise concerns about the potential for widespread electoral interference. Detection tools exist but are not readily available to the general public, making it challenging for voters to discern authentic content from AI-generated fakes.

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation into the robocalls, deeming them an unlawful attempt to disrupt the primary process. As the 2024 election cycle approaches, there is growing urgency for policymakers to address the threats posed by AI-generated disinformation and establish clear guidelines for its use in political campaigns.

This incident serves as a wake-up call for both lawmakers and the public, emphasizing the need for robust regulation, improved detection methods, and increased digital literacy to combat the rising tide of AI-powered election interference.

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WordPress SEO Categories: Artificial Intelligence Election Security Political Technology Disinformation Digital Ethics

Original Article Appears Here

In recent weeks, major tech companies have taken significant steps to address the growing problem of explicit deepfakes, potentially signaling a shift in the industry’s approach to this issue. This comes after sustained criticism from digital safety experts, women’s rights advocates, and legal scholars regarding Big Tech’s perceived role in the proliferation of non-consensual, sexually-explicit deepfakes online.

Meta’s Oversight Board ruled on two cases involving AI-generated explicit images of public figures, mandating their removal and recommending policy clarifications. The Board emphasized the severity of harms caused by such content and suggested replacing vague terms in content moderation policies with clearer language.

Microsoft published a report acknowledging the scale of the deepfake problem and calling for updated legislation to protect citizens from abusive AI-generated content. The company’s vice chair and president, Brad Smith, advocated for criminal penalties for creating and distributing non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material generated by AI.

Google announced significant updates to its search engine to combat explicit deepfakes. These changes include overhauling the reporting process for victims and adjusting the search algorithm to push websites hosting deepfake pornography further down in search results. The company aims to surface high-quality, non-explicit content for queries specifically seeking this type of material.

While these developments have been welcomed by advocates fighting against image-based sexual abuse, it remains to be seen whether they will lead to better protections for victims and a reduction in the volume of such material online. However, these actions suggest that the tech giants are beginning to take the criticisms seriously and may be moving towards more comprehensive measures to address the deepfake abuse epidemic.

As the U.S. Congress considers legislation that would allow victims of “sexual digital forgeries” to sue their abusers, these initiatives from Big Tech may provide hope for a safer internet in the future.

Original Article

SEO Keywords: deepfakes, explicit content, Big Tech, content moderation, AI-generated images, digital safety, Meta, Microsoft, Google, online abuse

The article discusses the challenges posed by deepfake technology and efforts to regulate it, particularly in Germany. Deepfakes are AI-generated realistic forgeries of videos and images, which are being increasingly used for fraud, misinformation, and non-consensual pornography.

Germany is preparing new legislation to address deepfake abuse. A draft law proposes harsher punishments and introduces a new criminal offense of “violation of personal rights by digital imitation.” This is part of broader efforts to combat digital violence in line with EU guidelines.

However, activists warn that overly broad legislation could criminalize legitimate uses of deepfake technology in satire and art. They argue that most deepfake-related offenses can already be addressed under existing laws.

The article highlights the challenge of balancing protection against abuse with preserving rights and freedoms. It emphasizes the importance of raising public awareness about the potential for online deception rather than relying solely on legal bans.

The humanitarian organization HateAid supports stricter regulation, noting that deepfakes pose a significant threat to democratic society and disproportionately affect women. They advocate for criminalizing the production of deepfake pornography, even if not shared.

Overall, the article underscores the complex legal and social challenges posed by deepfake technology, as lawmakers and society grapple with how to mitigate its harmful uses while preserving beneficial applications and free expression.

Original Article

Google is implementing changes to its search engine to address the growing issue of deepfake pornography. The tech giant aims to make it easier for victims to remove non-consensual explicit content from search results. Key measures include omitting explicit results for searches containing a person’s name, downranking websites with high removal notice volumes, and automatically removing duplicates of removed images. Google reports a 70% reduction in explicit deepfake content in search results since early 2024. However, challenges remain, such as limited access to third-party media data and balancing the needs of adult performers. The move comes as tech companies face pressure to tackle the social impacts of generative AI, with regulators like the UK’s Online Safety Act making non-consensual deepfake pornography illegal. While advocacy groups push for complete delisting of deepfake sites, Google argues this could block access to important information about content removal.

Complete story here

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2. Google search changes
3. AI-generated content
4. Online content removal
5. Non-consensual explicit material

• Elon Musk shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) that uses AI to imitate the voice of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, putting fake statements into her mouth without indicating that it was a fake or a parody.

• The doctored video appears to violate X’s policy, which states that synthetic media must be labeled or deleted if it could cause public confusion or harm. This is especially true for videos doctored by AI.

• The original creator of the video said it was a parody. Neither Musk nor Platform X have yet responded to criticism that the video could be misleading.

Full Story Appears Here

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, swing states are intensifying efforts to combat misinformation, particularly deepfake content, which poses a significant threat to the integrity of the electoral process. During the Republican National Convention, Microsoft experts Ginny Badanes and Ashley O’Rourke educated participants on identifying and combating deepfakes. They emphasized the critical role of political participants in tracking and responding to deepfake incidents.

The growing sophistication of AI technology has led to an increase in realistic deepfakes, especially targeting local officials and candidates. This development undermines voter trust in genuine campaign content. To address this, various states have implemented measures to ensure election integrity. For example, Philadelphia’s city commissioner’s office allocated $1.4 million for a communications plan aimed at countering misinformation through social media, ads, and proactive community engagement.

Pennsylvania’s efforts are a response to the rapid spread of misinformation during the 2020 election, which saw numerous baseless claims about the integrity of the voting process. In Arizona, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes has established an advisory committee to explore policy recommendations for AI and election security. The state has also introduced tabletop training exercises that expose officials to scenarios involving cyberattacks and misinformation.

Legislative actions are also underway. Arizona passed HB 2394 and SB 1359, which address deepfake content and mandate clear disclosures for AI-generated media. Similarly, Wisconsin’s AB 664 requires disclaimers on political ads produced using AI, with penalties for non-compliance.

Experts like Lawrence Norden from the Brennan Center emphasize the importance of proactive measures to inform voters about election security. Megan Bellamy from the Voting Rights Lab highlighted the widespread nature of misinformation and the necessity of maintaining trust in the electoral process. These combined efforts reflect a nationwide commitment to protecting the democratic process from the evolving threat of AI-generated misinformation.

2024 election, misinformation, deepfakes, swing states, election security, voter trust, AI technology, political campaigns, legislative measures, combating misinformation 

Reprinted with Full Permissions from COPIEDact.com

On September 27, 2023, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration held a pivotal hearing titled “AI and the Future of Our Elections.” Chaired by Senator Amy Klobuchar, the session explored the implications of artificial intelligence on electoral processes, featuring testimonies from key experts in technology, election security, and policy.

Witnesses included Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State, who emphasized the dual nature of AI as both a tool for efficiency and a potential threat to election integrity through misinformation and disinformation. Trevor Potter, President of the Campaign Legal Center and former FEC Chairman, discussed the urgent need for regulations to prevent AI from being used deceptively in elections. Maya Wiley, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, highlighted the importance of addressing AI-driven disinformation, especially targeting non-English speaking communities and voters of color​ (Klobuchar Senate)​​ (Senate Rules)​​ (Tech Policy Press)​​ (Leadership Conference)​​ (Campaign Legal)​.

The hearing addressed several critical areas:

1. Election Integrity: AI’s potential to both support and undermine election processes was a major focus. The need for transparency and accurate information dissemination was stressed to counter AI-generated deepfakes and misleading content.
2. Cybersecurity: Witnesses highlighted AI’s role in both enhancing and threatening cybersecurity measures. AI can improve threat detection but also be exploited for sophisticated cyberattacks.
3. Policy Recommendations: The session underscored the necessity for a robust policy framework to manage AI’s integration into elections. Recommendations included augmenting the FEC’s authority to regulate AI use in campaigns, mandating disclaimers on AI-generated political ads, and enhancing cybersecurity protocols to protect electoral integrity.

Senators from both parties expressed concern over AI’s rapid advancement and its potential to disrupt democratic processes. They emphasized the importance of proactive measures to ensure AI is used responsibly and ethically in elections, calling for bipartisan legislative action to safeguard democracy.

The hearing underscored the critical need for collaboration between government entities, technology firms, and civil society to address the evolving challenges posed by AI in the electoral domain. This foundational discussion sets the stage for further legislative and regulatory efforts to protect future elections from AI-driven threats.

 Read Full Hearing

AI in elections, Senate hearing, election security, AI and democracy, voter accessibility, AI policy, election integrity, cybersecurity in elections, deepfakes, AI legislation