In a few months the United States will elect its 46th President. While some worry about whether campaigning and casting votes can be done safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, another question is just as critical: how many votes will result via the manipulative influence of artificial intelligence?

Specifically, the emerging threat of deepfakes could have an unprecedented impact on this election cycle, raising serious questions about the integrity of elections, policy-making and our democratic society at large.

Understanding deepfakes

AI-powered deepfakes have the potential to bring troubling consequences for the US 2024 elections.

The technology that began as little more than a giggle-inducing gimmick for making homebrew mash-up videos has recently been supercharged by advances in AI.

Today, open-sourced software like DeepFaceLab and Faceswap allow virtually anyone with time and access to cloud computing to deploy sophisticated machine learning processes and graphical rendering without any prior development.

More worryingly, the technology itself is improving at such a rapid pace where experts predict that deepfakes may soon be indistinguishable from real videos. The staggering results that AI can create today can be attributed to herculean leaps in a subfield called Generative Adversarial Networks. This technology enables neural networks to make the jump from mere perception to creation.

As one can expect with viral technology, the number of deepfake videos is growing exponentially as the continuing democratization of AI and cloud-computing make the underlying processes more and more accessible.

How can deepfakes become electoral weapons?

How exactly could deepfakes be weaponized in an election? To begin with, malicious actors could forge evidence to fuel false accusation and fake narratives. For example, by introducing subtle changes to how a candidate delivers an otherwise authentic speech could be used to put character, fitness and mental health into question without most viewers knowing any better.

Deepfakes could also be used to create entirely new fictitious content, including controversial or hateful statements with the intention of playing upon political divisions, or even inciting violence.

Perhaps not surprisingly, deepfakes have already been leveraged in other countries to destabilize governments and political processes.

• In Gabon, the military launched an ultimately unsuccessful coup after the release of an apparently fake video of leader Ali Bongo suggested that the President was no longer healthy enough to hold office.
• In Belgium, a political group released a deepfake of the Belgian Prime Minister giving a speech that linked the COVID-19 outbreak to environmental damage and called for drastic action on climate change.

Safeguarding Democracy: Strategies for Defending Against AI-Driven Election Threats

As the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and democracy becomes more pronounced, safeguarding election security is paramount. Here are some strategies to defend against AI-driven threats:

1. Tech Accord to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in 2024 Elections:
   • Leading technology companies, including Adobe, Amazon, Google, IBM, Microsoft, OpenAI, and others, have pledged to detect and counter harmful AI content during global elections.
   • Commitments include developing technology to mitigate risks related to deceptive AI election content, detecting and addressing distribution of such content, and fostering transparency.
2. Generative AI Awareness and Training:
   • Election officials and staff should receive training on generative AI capabilities.
   • Understand how AI-generated content can impact election security, including deepfakes, altered images, and synthetic audio.
3. Robust Cyber Hygiene:
   • Implement strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.
   • Include guidelines on generative AI platforms in cybersecurity policies.
   • Establish your office as a trusted source for accurate election information.
4. Preemptive Measures:
   • Verify accounts and amplify truthful information through official channels.
   • Utilize .gov domains for election websites to enhance security.
   • Ensure paper backups of voter choices and regularly audit software tabulations.
5. Public Awareness and Media Literacy:
   • Educate the public about AI risks and misinformation.
   • Foster resilience by promoting media literacy and critical thinking.

Remember, elections are the beating heart of democracies, and these steps contribute to advancing election integrity and societal resilience in the face of evolving AI threats.

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