Deepfake technology has been making headlines recently, especially in the realm of politics. A recent incident involving a deepfake of U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman being used in the Taiwan presidential elections to endorse a candidate has raised concerns among officials and advocates monitoring the spread of disinformation.
Leah Walker, director of UC Berkeley’s Risk and Security Lab, along with Public Policy Student Fu-Yang Peng, have been studying how AI and deepfakes are being used to influence elections. They have been closely monitoring the different deepfakes and AI misinformation being used in various countries as over 80 countries gear up for major elections this year.
One example highlighted by Peng was a deepfake targeting Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen, spreading disinformation to damage her reputation and influence voter behavior. Walker emphasized the importance of studying smaller countries like Taiwan and upcoming elections in Lithuania, as they often have better safeguards against disinformation.
As the U.S. presidential election approaches, experts are keeping a close eye on the evolving deepfake technology. Andrew Reddie, UC Berkeley associate professor of public policy, expressed concern about the rapid advancement of AI deepfakes and their potential consequences. He stressed the need for AI companies to develop watermark features for AI imagery and video to combat the spread of malicious deepfakes.
While most of the deepfakes seen in Taiwan originated from outside the country, watch groups were able to flag them and make a difference. However, Peng and Walker noted that robust watch groups are not prevalent in many countries, highlighting the need for increased vigilance and preparedness for the upcoming elections.
With the technology behind deepfakes constantly evolving, experts are urging for proactive measures to combat the spread of misinformation and safeguard the integrity of elections worldwide. As the U.S. election draws near, the lessons learned from studying deepfakes in other countries will be crucial in protecting against potential threats to democracy.