With the US Election Day months away, the Senate Rules Committee passed three bills to protect the polls from the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI).
As deepfake audio and video become simpler, authorities worry about campaigns using AI technology to deceive voters in the upcoming elections.
The committee voted as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and three bipartisan colleagues released an AI regulation roadmap. According to The Verge, the three bills must pass the House and Senate to become law, placing urgency on election-related deepfake restrictions before November's elections.
Fighting AI-Powered Misinformation
Three Senate Rules Committee legislations were passed on Wednesday to target the risk of AI misuse in federal elections. Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who sponsored the proposals, stated that other states have enacted election procedures. Klobuchar notes that 14 states have AI content labeling legislation.
The Preparing Election Administrators for AI Act passed 11-0. It requires the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and NIST to produce a report for election offices on AI-related disinformation, cybersecurity, and election administration risks. A 2024 election report on AI's influence is required under an amendment.
Meanwhile, the committee passed the Protect Elections from the Deceptive AI Act and AI Transparency in Elections Act 9-2. The former prohibits AI deepfakes of federal candidates for fundraising or election-influencing purposes. While the latter measure will notify voters about AI-generated satirical advertising.
Ranking Member Deb Fischer (R-NE) rejected the latter two proposals as "over-inclusive" and regulating speech beyond deepfakes. Fischer argued that The Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act would limit unpaid political speech and that state legislators should regulate elections rather than the federal government.
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FBI Issues Warning on AI's Threat on 2024 US Elections
Last week, a top FBI official warned that foreign enemies may use artificial intelligence to influence US elections and disseminate disinformation, calling the technology "likely to see growth over the coming years."
According to the officials, AI technology lowers protection against criminals and gives more sophisticated foreign governments the capacity to meddle in elections.
In January, robocalls mimicking President Joe Biden encouraged New Hampshire voters to skip the primary election. Authorities traced the calls to a political consultant who said he made the calls to warn about AI deepfakes.
Russia, Iran, and China are the FBI's top concerns in the election year. Officials have attributed a variety of motivations and intentions to these nations' influence on US elections.
Russia hacked and leaked Democratic emails to support Republican Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, per intelligence officials. Russia sought to damage the Democratic Party in the 2022 midterm elections to reduce US support for Ukraine and voter confidence, according to a recent intelligence community analysis.
The investigation also stated China sought to influence many contests involving both major political parties by targeting anti-China candidates and subtly criticizing a US senator. The investigation accused Iran of using societal divides for clandestine activities.
FBI officials expect China to stir divisiveness in the 2024 elections and are examining whether the Ukraine crisis would affect Russia.
A separate report from CNN stated that US rivals utilized AI to influence the previous polls. According to the information, Chinese and Iranian intelligence agents created bogus, AI-generated content to sway US voters in the last weeks of the 2020 election.
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