Disturbing Use of AI in Election Campaigns
A recent article reported by “Rzeczpospolita” presented alarming findings from the cyber security firm Check Point, which has scrutinized electoral processes worldwide. Their research covers a span of 36 elections, including parliamentary, presidential, and local ones, from the past six months.
Deepfake Technology Undermines Information Integrity
The insights are far from reassuring. Check Point’s report reveals a disturbing trend of deepfake technology being exploited to twist the truth in media messages during campaigns. These sophisticated manipulations landed ten countries, including Poland, on an ignominious blacklist for democratic integrity breaches.
An Incident of Deepfake in Polish Politics
According to the report, Poland found its way onto the list due to an incident preceding last year’s parliamentary elections. A political advertisement that featured the former Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, was fabricated using artificial intelligence. The tech manipulated his parliamentary speech, blending it with the content of an email allegedly from Michał Dworczyk’s inbox, thus creating false associations. This case underlines the growing issue of digital deception in the political arena and raises serious concerns about the widespread impact on democratic systems.
Risks and Challenges of Deepfake Technology in Elections
Deepfake technology, which leverages artificial intelligence to create hyper-realistic but entirely fabricated images and videos, has emerged as a powerful tool for disinformation, especially during elections. Among the chief concerns is how deepfakes can erode trust in media and public figures, manipulating the electorate’s perceptions and potentially influencing election outcomes. The technology can be used to create false narratives, impersonate political figures, and spread misinformation at scale.
Key Questions and Answers
1. What is deepfake technology?
Deepfake technology is a form of artificial intelligence that can create convincing fake videos and audio recordings that appear real. It combines and superimposes existing images and videos onto source images or videos using a technique known as generative adversarial networks (GANs).
2. How are deepfakes used in elections?
During campaigns, deepfakes can be used to fabricate speeches, statements, or events that never occurred, or to distort a politician’s words, damaging their reputation and swaying public opinion.
3. What are some key challenges deepfakes pose to democracies?
The primary challenge is discerning truth from fiction, safeguarding the integrity of information, and maintaining fair democratic processes. Deepfakes can undermine confidence in democratic institutions and news media, exacerbating political polarization and election interference.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Deepfake Technology
Advantages:
– Deepfake technology can be used in entertainment to create realistic visual effects, dubbing in different languages, or bring back deceased actors.
– It can also be applied in educational contexts to recreate historical speeches or events for better engagement.
Disadvantages:
– Deepfake technology can be misused to spread fake news and disinformation.
– It undermines trust in audiovisual content as evidence, posing legal and social challenges.
– It threatens privacy, as individuals’ likenesses can be misappropriated without consent.
Controversies
A core controversy surrounding deepfakes is the balance between technological advancement and ethical use. While the technology presents potential benefits, its misuse raises acute ethical concerns about consent, defamation, and the erosion of trust in public discourse.
To enhance your understanding of the broader dynamics at play, please consider visiting the main domain of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which offers insights into addressing election security and combating disinformation: U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Additionally, you can explore the website of Check Point for more information on cybersecurity threats: Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.. Please note that it’s important to ensure these URLs are valid and safe before clicking.
The source of the article is from the blog maltemoney.com.br