Deepfakes, Disinformation and Democracy: The Looming Threats to Election 2024
For UK publication TechInformed I wrote about how AI-generated deepfakes and false information pose a threat to the integrity and credibility of the high-stakes 2024 US presidential race.
More than four billion people will vote in over 60 elections across the globe this year. The proliferation of AI-enabled misinformation and disinformation has already disrupted many of the world’s most prominent ballots, including those in Mexico, Indonesia, Chad, and many European countries.
The high-stakes US election is no exception. Deepfakes impersonating both President Joe Biden and White House rival Donald Trump circulated widely on social media early in the campaign. Experts agree that this new technology can misinform the public, erode confidence in public agencies, decrease voter turnout, and even provoke conflicts with nation-state adversaries. But solutions exist.
Disinformation is the deliberate dissemination of false or misleading information intending to deceive, manipulate public opinion, push a particular agenda, or obscure the truth. It is a form of propaganda that can be spread through various channels, including news media, social media platforms, websites, and even individuals.