The Rise of Deceptive Political Advertising: AI’s Dark Influence
There’s a scene in the 1966 film of Ray Bradbury’s ominous novel “Fahrenheit 451” when the main character, Montag, flees from police in a dystopian dictatorship of the future and hides at a safe house, where he sees himself captured and killed on TV as a robotic voice assures viewers that everyone is safe again.
That was imaginative science fiction a half-century ago. But now it’s easy to create things that never happen, through the wonders of artificial intelligence. This isn’t the “fake news” Donald Trump rails against but deliberately deceptive images and impressions in advertising meant to spread real whoppers to millions via social media and television.
Protecting Voters: Proposed Legislation for AI Disclaimers
That’s why at least five states have already moved to make campaigns tell voters when they use artificial intelligence – commonly known now as “AI” – so we can decide how well we can believe our eyes. A few advertisements have already been rigged with fake voices and pictures to make viewers like or hate a candidate.
In a well-intended first step toward curbing this bold new political pollution, state Sen. Nick DiCeglie has filed a bill requiring a disclaimer on advertising made with “generative artificial intelligence.” Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah, has a House companion bill for the legislative session that starts Jan. 9. “The increasing access to sophisticated AI-generated content threatens the integrity of elections by facilitating the dissemination of misleading or completely fabricated information that appears more realistic than ever,” DiCeglie, a Republican from Indian Rocks Beach, said of his legislation. “The technology that produces this content has advanced rapidly and outpaces government regulation.”
AI-contaminated advertising would have to be labeled, “Created in whole or in part with the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI).” That’s something, and maybe all the First Amendment would permit in court but a consumer alert is not sufficient safeguard for the sewer that modern campaigning has become. An advertisement shouldn’t just say “contains AI,” it should specify which allegations are vicious fantasy.
The Threat of AI-Generated Misinformation in Campaigns
It would be great if we could just outlaw it in political advertising but that poses First Amendment problems. To encourage free-wheeling debate, the U.S. Supreme Court allows wide latitude for political speech, so it’s fair game to take one tiny detail and blow it out or proportion in a campaign. If I, or some supposedly “independent” campaign committee supporting me, want to post ads saying you favor gun control and want dirty books in school libraries, there’s not much you can do – except to find something nastier to say about me.
But what if I don’t just falsely twist what you said, but distort some documents and videos to spread some smears about your voting record or personal habits? Your rebuttal will never quite catch up with my lie and, even if it does, our race will probably be over by then.
Regrettably, any restrictions imposed nationally by Congress or by various state legislators won’t be so scrupulous. Voters need a bit of caveat emptor at the polls.
The First Amendment Challenge: Balancing Free Speech and Political Lies
It would be great if we could just outlaw it in political advertising but that poses First Amendment problems. To encourage free-wheeling debate, the U.S. Supreme Court allows wide latitude for political speech, so it’s fair game to take one tiny detail and blow it out of proportion in a campaign. If I, or some supposedly “independent” campaign committee supporting me, want to post ads saying you favor gun control and want dirty books in school libraries, there’s not much you can do – except to find something nastier to say about me.
But what if I don’t just falsely twist what you said, but distort some documents and videos to spread some smears about your voting record or personal habits? Your rebuttal will never quite catch up with my lie, and even if it does, our race will probably be over by then.
Caveat Emptor: How to Navigate the Age of Fake Political Ads
The best self-defense against fake advertising is to simply not believe anything one side says about the other – conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican, veteran incumbent, or upstart newcomer. Just remember somebody is spending a lot of money to persuade you this way or that way about a person or an issue on the ballot, so everything in every advertisement is meant to stir emotions, not educate.
And of course, if anything seems too good – or too bad – to be true, it probably isn’t.
Bill Cotterell is a retired capitol reporter for United Press International and the Tallahassee Democrat.
Analyst comment
Negative news. The rise of deceptive political advertising using AI poses a threat to the integrity of elections. Proposed legislation aims to require disclaimers on AI-generated ads, but it may not be enough. The challenge lies in balancing free speech and political lies. In the age of fake political ads, the best defense is to be skeptical and not believe everything presented.
