The US Federal Election Commission (FEC) has proposed regulating AI deep fake content in political ads, emphasizing their potential for deception for the 2024 elections.
In a unanimous decision on August 10th, the FEC proposed a regulation designed to oversee the use of AI-crafted deep fake content within political advertisements. The initiative is primarily focused on the forthcoming 2024 US elections.
This initiates a 60-day public commentary period, offering stakeholders, specialists, and the public a platform to share their insights.
This proposal originates from a petition submitted by the advocacy group Public Citizen.
Addressing the potential challenges deep fakes might pose to democratic systems, Public Citizen president Robert Weissman argued that deep fakes distort truths and propagate deceptive information.
Weissman said, “The FEC must use its authority to ban deep fakes or risk being complicit with an AI-driven wave of fraudulent misinformation and the destruction of basic norms of truth and falsity.”
There are already many examples of AI-generated content integrated into political adverts and campaign material. For instance, Florida Governor and Republican nominee Ron DeSantis circulated fake images depicting former President Donald Trump hugging Dr. Anthony Fauci.
DeSantis attack ad uses fake AI images of Trump embracing Fauci https://t.co/PA74FsDea4 pic.twitter.com/2zsX01io58
— The Verge (@verge) June 8, 2023
During the FEC discussion, Lisa Gilbert, the Executive Vice President of Public Citizen, outlined the need for a clearer understanding of how current laws on “fraudulent misrepresentation” might be applied to AI deep fakes.
Notably, members from both chambers of the US Congress endorsed the initial petition by Public Citizen, signifying a shared appetite to protect democratic systems from AI deep fakes.
In June, the American Association of Political Consultants declared the use of deep fake content in political campaigns a breach of their ethical code. However, firm legal measures against their use would be a considerably more robust intervention.
The political use of deep fakes struck in the UK, too, where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was depicted pouring a sub-standard pint of beer – a grave mistake to make as a British public servant. In reality, Sunak’s pint was satisfactory.
Deep fakes have been repeatedly highlighted as one of AI’s most potent and immediate risks, creating a scenario where the public can’t easily distinguish between falsehood and reality.
