The Emergence Of Deepfakes In The 2024 US Presidential Election Blurring The Lines Between Fact And Fiction

Deepfake is a problem for elections in the US. (photo: doc.pexels)

JAKARTA - The United States' condition in the 2024 presidential election is filled with deepfake content that mixes fact and fiction, according to a report from Reuters. Realistic deepfake videos engineered using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have boomed in the last year with the introduction of "generative AI" tools such as Midjourney that make it easy to create convincing deepfakes.

This poses serious problems in distinguishing genuine from false information, and allows political supporters to use this technology to damage the image of their opponents.

The report noted that several major social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have made efforts to ban and remove deepfakes, but their effectiveness at policing this kind of content varies.

Along with that, the number of video and voice deepfakes posted online has tripled compared to the same period in the previous year. It is estimated that around 500,000 deepfake videos and sounds will be circulating on social media sites worldwide by 2023.

OpenAI, one of the leading companies in the artificial intelligence industry, has taken steps to limit the use of its products in politics. However, there are still loopholes in the oversight of political content, and some small startups do not even have explicit restrictions on political content. There is concern that generative AI can be widely used to spread false information that has the potential to undermine public trust.

Meanwhile, several political actors are trying to take advantage of the power of generative AI to strengthen their campaigns. For example, the National Republican Party (RNC) has published political ads that are generated entirely by AI. The ad uses a fake image to depict a disastrous scenario if Biden is re-elected as president. However, so far there has been no political advertisement that uses generative AI which is well known in the United States.

The use of generative AI in politics has also attracted the interest of political activists and strategy consultants. They see this technology as a cheap and effective way to even out the competition in elections. Several political consulting groups are experimenting with AI content, such as the creation of voice messages and images, and the development of automated surveys using AI bots.

In dealing with this deepfake problem, industry and regulators must work together to find solutions that can track and identify deepfakes. However, at this time there is no clear solution, and the problem of deepfakes continues to be a concern for honest and transparent elections.

Thus the news regarding the use of deepfakes in the 2024 United States presidential election. All parties, be it social media platforms, technology companies, and governments, need to work together to address the challenges posed by deepfakes. It is important to develop solutions that can detect and prevent the spread of harmful deepfake content.

Speedy and effective regulation is also needed to ensure the integrity of elections and prevent the spread of false information. Some companies, such as OpenAI, have introduced restrictions on the use of their products in political contexts, but there are still gaps that need to be closed to ensure the responsible and ethical use of generative AI.

In addition, public education about deepfakes and the ability to distinguish between genuine and fake content is also very important. With a better understanding of this technology, voters can become more critical and aware of the information they receive.

In an era where deepfakes are becoming more sophisticated and easier to create, it's important that we remain vigilant and critical of the content we consume. Ensuring the truth and integrity of information is our shared responsibility as a society whose information is increasingly connected through digital media.