This morning, US intelligence officials have disclosed concerning efforts from China and Iran to influence the upcoming 2024 election. The National Security Agency has uncovered that both governments had prepared AI-generated deepfakes as far back as four years ago, although these were never made public. With the increasing accessibility of AI technology, there is a growing apprehension about potential foreign interference in the imminent election.
The intelligence shared by sources highlights the longstanding worries of US officials regarding the readiness of foreign adversaries, specifically Iran and China, to utilize AI-generated fake content, be it audio or video, to target American voters during election periods. While the disseminating of such content by Chinese and Iranian operatives did not occur, it underscores the current alarm raised by US officials about the exploitation of AI and deepfakes by foreign entities to sway the 2024 presidential election.
Today, the Senate Intelligence Committee is holding a hearing where Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines will testify about foreign attempts to meddle in the upcoming presidential election. This hearing may shed more light on the employment of deepfakes. The heightened concern now compared to the relatively subdued response in 2020 is due to the significant advancements in AI technology, making it much simpler to fabricate AI-generated videos and audio.
An incident in February, where a robocall mimicking Joe Biden's voice was circulated to voters in New Hampshire, serves as an example of the potential misuse of this technology. The intelligence paints a picture of how these adversaries are focused on sowing chaos around Election Day, prompting US officials to prepare for various scenarios.
Recent reports indicate that officials engaged in a tabletop exercise where they had to respond to a situation where Chinese operatives created a fake AI video. The federal government is deliberating on the extent of its involvement in responding to such incidents. The challenge lies in swiftly identifying and debunking fake videos, audios, or robocalls once they surface, and then effectively informing the public of their falsity.
The ease with which such deceptive content can be created poses numerous challenges, necessitating a proactive approach to combat potential foreign interference in the electoral process.
