Study Reveals AI’s Potential to Impersonate Political Figures and Spread Misinformation

Artificial intelligence programs are now capable of convincingly impersonating voices of prominent political figures like President Biden and former President Trump, posing significant risks for misinformation, especially during elections. According to a recent study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), these AI tools have succeeded in creating deceptive audio content about 80% of the time.

The ease of access and lack of sufficient safeguards on these platforms allow virtually anyone to generate political disinformation, raising concerns about the integrity of democratic processes. CCDH’s findings highlight a disturbing trend where such technologies have been utilized to manipulate voter behavior. For instance, during the New Hampshire Democratic primary in February 2024, robocalls using a counterfeit Biden voice were made to discourage voter turnout.

This incident led to legal repercussions for Steve Kramer, the individual behind the scheme, resulting in multiple charges and a substantial fine by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In response, the FCC has implemented bans on the use of AI-generated voices in calls and proposed new regulations to ensure transparency in the use of AI in political advertising.

The CCDH tested several AI tools, finding that most lack effective measures to prevent the misuse of their technology for creating false political statements. Only ElevenLabs was noted to block the production of mimic statements using the voices of U.S. and U.K. political leaders.

This development has sparked action from policymakers. For example, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Lisa Murkowski introduced legislation mandating disclosure when AI is employed in political ads, mirroring the FCC’s proposed regulations.

The CCDH’s report underscores the urgent need for regulatory measures to combat the potential misuse of AI in elections, reflecting growing concerns among technology policy experts about AI-enhanced threats to democracy, such as disinformation and voter suppression. The study calls for immediate attention to this issue to safeguard electoral integrity and democratic values.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, thehill.com