Turn to Tara: Deepfakes become a growing concern for the 2024 elections
Experts warn that deepfakes could have a significant impact on the elections, particularly in swing states.
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With the 2024 elections approaching, a new threat has emerged in the form of deepfake political ads. These AI-generated ads can be incredibly convincing, making it difficult for voters to distinguish fact from fiction.
Recently, a deepfake robocall was sent to New Hampshire voters, urging them not to vote in the primary election. The call featured a digital forgery of President Joe Biden's voice, highlighting the potential for deepfakes to mislead voters.
Experts warn that deepfakes could have a significant impact on the elections, particularly in swing states. Eric Yaverbaum, a public relations executive, notes that deepfakes have the potential to be "as dangerous as any hacker, times about a thousand."
To combat this growing concern, the FCC has banned deepfake robocalls, and companies like Meta and Microsoft have introduced features to identify AI deception. However, only a handful of states have passed laws to put safeguards in place.
In New York, legislation requires AI-generated ads to come with disclosures, but similar bills are still under debate in New Jersey and Connecticut.
A nonprofit group has launched a deepfake detector to help users identify political fakes online. This tool can help voters make informed decisions, but experts emphasize that the era of fake cyber propaganda has only just begun
