CDT is Protecting Elections in the Age of AI


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CDT is Protecting Elections in the Age of AI.



The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) is working hard to ensure that our democratic institutions can live up to the rapidly changing pace of technology. Building upon our expertise, our teams are developing practical insights and recommendations to defend and strengthen our elections. With less than a year until the U.S. midterms, CDT is working with policymakers, election officials, and voters to ensure a fair and safe voting process in the U.S. and beyond.



After the 2024 elections, some pundits who expected a wave of AI-powered disinformation breathed a sigh of relief -- but they shouldn't relax too soon. That's the conclusion of a new report issued this week by CDT's Elections and Democracy team, focused on the
use of AI in last year’s campaigns ([link removed]). Based on in-depth interviews with campaign professionals, our report points out that companies' policies helped prevent nefarious uses of AI during the last election cycle. But recent evidence indicates
those norms are crumbling ([link removed])
just as AI image- and voice-cloning capabilities become more sophisticated and widespread, and stakeholders at every level need to prepare accordingly.

This month CDT also released a report on a rapidly evolving aspect of modern campaigns: the
rising importance of social media influencers ([link removed]). The report explores the growing role of influencers and how they fit -- or fail to fit -- within existing rules set by social media companies and applicable campaign finance and consumer protection laws. Putting forth a clearly defined definition of a political influencer, CDT's research identified specific gaps in current government and private sector policies and the impact for fair, well-informed elections.

We're proud that our research isn't just interesting -- it's helping power the pro-democracy movement. In the run-up to the 2024 elections, CDT shared new insights on political advertising in social media, specifically identifying
changes resulting from generative AI and the need to address synthetic content ([link removed]). This year, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression
incorporated findings from that research ([link removed])
(and other CDT products) into the UN's June 2025
report on freedom of expression and elections in the digital age ([link removed]). In addition, this week the Anthem Awards recognized CDT's 2025 report on
The Civic Response to AI-Infused Elections ([link removed]), which took an international look at how civil society is countering disinformation. It included case studies on fact-checking in Mexico, decentralization and coordination among civil society in Taiwan, and the international effort to track AI incidents in real time.


CDT is also advocating for critical election security measures and resources that allow election officials to do their jobs effectively. Following the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) decision to cut funding for key election security infrastructure,
CDT advocated for transparency in the agency’s decisions ([link removed]), highlighting
CISA ([link removed])
in preventing physical and cyber threats to voting infrastructure, including threats from foreign adversaries. Meanwhile, we're partnering with other election administration experts to identify the security gaps left by CISA's retreat -- and helping to bridge the gap ourselves, such as through a research sprint assessing the accessibility of election websites that seeks to help voting officials fix problems before the midterms.



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READ: Promise and Peril: Generative AI’s Experimental Debut in U.S. Political Campaigns ([link removed])


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READ: Architects of Online Influence: How Creators, Platforms, and Policymakers Shape Political Speech ([link removed])


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READ: Generating Confusion: Stress-Testing AI Chatbot Responses on Voting with a Disability ([link removed])


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READ: Hated More: Online Violence Targeting Women of Color Candidates in the 2024 US Election ([link removed])


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READ: Countdown to the Midterms: The Changing AI Threat Landscape for Elections ([link removed])


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Watch: CDT’s CEO Gives Keynote at 2025 IFES Charles Manatt Democracy Award ([link removed])




Throughout our work, CDT remains committed to championing election integrity in the face of new changes to the electoral ecosystem. If you are not yet engaged and want to join the conversation, please
sign up to keep in touch ([link removed])
or reply to this email. You can help advance civil rights and civil liberties in the digital age.


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