A wide range of leading technology companies have signed a voluntary agreement to combat AI-generated deepfakes that could be used to interfere in elections by misleading voters.
Deepfakes are expected to pose a major threat to this year’s elections
AI was a big concern at this year’s Munich Security Conference where the agreement was signed, with Google launching its AI Cyber Defense Initiative a few days ago.
The latest agreement will help increase communication about when and where political deepfakes are created and distributed to mitigate the potential harm they cause. Although the agreement is voluntary, deepfakes are a major cause for concern in a year filled with crucial elections around the world.
In a press statement about the agreement announcement, Microsoft Vice Chairman and President Brad Smith said: “The challenges are enormous, and our expectations must be realistic… There is no way the technology sector can protect elections of this new type by themselves.” of electoral violations.”
Shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a fake video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which the president told his troops to lay down their arms and surrender, went viral. The video was quickly debunked as a fake, but deepfake technology has advanced significantly in the past few years.
Just last month, the United States got its first taste of election interference in 2024 when New Hampshire was targeted by a robocall impersonating President Joe Biden asking voters not to vote in the state’s primary.