The use of deepfake technology in the recent Taiwan presidential elections has raised concerns among officials and advocates monitoring the spread of disinformation. UC Berkeley experts Leah Walker and Fu-Yang Peng have been studying how AI and deepfakes are being used to influence elections around the world.
With over 80 countries holding major elections this year, experts are closely monitoring the different types of deepfakes and AI misinformation being used. By studying the tactics used in smaller countries like Taiwan and upcoming elections in Lithuania, researchers hope to better understand how the U.S. election might be targeted.
Andrew Reddie, an associate professor at UC Berkeley, highlighted the rapid advancement of AI deepfake technology in just 12 months. He expressed concern about the potential consequences of these tools being used to create misleading content. Reddie emphasized the importance of implementing watermark features for AI imagery and video to help combat the spread of deepfakes.
While most of the deepfakes seen in Taiwan originated from outside the country, watch groups were able to flag them and prevent widespread dissemination. However, experts noted that many countries lack robust watch groups to monitor and address disinformation effectively.
As the U.S. presidential election approaches, researchers are preparing for potential disinformation campaigns by studying cases from around the world. By staying vigilant and learning from past examples, experts hope to mitigate the impact of deepfakes and AI misinformation on the upcoming election.