“Policymakers must rush to put in place protections or we’re facing electoral
chaos.”

That’s what I told The New York Times in a story on deceptive content generated by artificial intelligence (AI)
technology — audio, imagery, and video known as “deepfakes” — being used to
mislead voters and foment confusion around elections.

And here’s what I said on NBC Nightly News:

“They are compelling and convincing. They sound real. They look real. So there’s
massive possibility for fraud.”

AI-generated deepfakes threaten democracy as we know it:

* With Big Tech recklessly pumping out ever more powerful AI, we are rapidly
getting to the point where everyday Americans, and even experts, won’t be
able to distinguish what’s real from what’s fake.

* Without clear rules in place in time, AI-generated deepfakes could very well
determine the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.

* Equally as threatening to a functioning society, an onslaught of deepfakes
could make voters feel so confused and powerless that millions essentially
give up on our democracy altogether.

With Public Citizen leading the way, 15 states have already passed legislation —
with bipartisan support — to minimize the chances of deepfakes undermining
statewide elections.

And we formally petitioned the Federal Election Commission (FEC) — the
government agency that is *supposed* to safeguard the fairness and integrity of
our elections — to issue clear rules banning the use of deepfakes by national
candidates and political parties.

But the FEC is dragging its feet, so rules may not be in place in time to
prevent AI-generated deepfakes from wreaking havoc throughout the upcoming
presidential election.

To the Federal Election Commission:
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Why is the Federal Election Commission STILL dragging its feet on the threat
that political deepfakes pose to the very core of our democracy? The FEC must
act without further delay — before it is too late for the 2024 election — and
issue clear rules banning the use of AI-generated deepfakes by federal
candidates and parties. [[link removed]]

Click to add your name now. [[link removed]]

Thanks for taking action.

For democracy,

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen


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