John,
Misinformation and disinformation are among the chief tools used by those who seek to undermine the progress we've made as a society, particularly when it comes to Black political power.1 These tactics are designed to divide us along racial lines, create distrust in our institutions and ultimately suppress the voices that champion change and equity.
Most recently, right-wing billionaire Elon Musk, owner of Twitter (otherwise known as X), retweeted an altered video of Vice President Kamala Harris without labeling it as satire.2 This doctored video portrays Harris in a negative light, using her likeness and voice to spread false information. It is dangerous not only because it misrepresents the vice president, but also because it undermines trust in our democratic processes.
We cannot let such malicious acts go unchecked.
Tell AI companies: PROTECT OUR ELECTIONS FROM DEEPFAKES!
Misinformation and disinformation have always been used to suppress Black political power. From voter suppression tactics to smears against Black leaders, these malicious acts seek to undermine our voices and limit our participation in shaping the future of this country. We must recognize this incident for what it is — an attack on our democracy and an attempt to weaken the influence of Black voters in the upcoming presidential election.
Misleading voters using the likeness of any candidate flies in the face of our democracy and we cannot let such manipulative strategies go unchecked. Together, we can protect the integrity of our democracy and the integrity of this election, and ensure that every voice is heard loud and clear. Sign our petition to fight election deepfakes online!
SIGN THE PETITION. NO ELECTION DEEPFAKES!
Until Justice Is Real,
The Color Of Change Tech Accountability Team
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References:
1. Christine Fernando, “Election disinformation campaigns targeted voters of color in 2020. Experts expect 2024 to be worse,” Associated Press, July 29, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/elections-voting-misinformation-race-immigration-712a5c5a9b72c1668b8c9b1eb6e0038a/
4. Ali Swenson, “A parody ad shared by Elon Musk clones Kamala Harris’ voice, raising concerns about AI in politics,” Associated Press, July 29, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/parody-ad-ai-harris-musk-x-misleading-3a5df582f911a808d34f68b766aa3b8e/
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