Deepfakes can Drive Election Results in 2024

There are several AI-powered video-generating tools and platforms, including Deepfake technology, which can manipulate and generate videos using artificial intelligence algorithms. Users can use these tools for a variety of purposes, including entertainment, special effects in movies, and malicious activities like generating false content.

These deepfake videos can spread false information, encourage revenge porn, and damage people’s reputations. I will discuss malicious intentions of deepfake and its effect on elections and entertainment industry in detail in this article, but let’s just see what the benefits of using deepfake technology(1).

Deepfake Videos and Their Impact on Elections

Deepfakes created using artificial intelligence(AI) present a huge threat to elections. To address the potential of AI-generated deepfakes in the US, India, and other parts of the world, tech companies have signed a voluntary agreement defining ways of detecting and labeling fraudulent AI material.

It is very interesting to note that the agreement does not require the removal of deepfakes; it only focuses on recognizing and categorizing such content. Since there is no federal legislation regulating AI in politics, tech corporations are left self-governing, while states are seeking methods for controlling the use of AI in elections(2).

There are numerous examples of how disruptive deepfake videos could be, but when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign released a video that included realistic deepfaked photos of Anthony Fauci, it surprised everyone(3).

Another huge set back was during Slovakia’s parliamentary election, a deepfake audio recording that went viral on social media, surprising the world. Read the details here(4).

Video deepfake and entertainment industry

With the advancement of deepfake, you could create the deepfakes of the actors or stars that you want. And have them work on your next movie or series. You could also bring back actors from the 1960s and create artifacts with sufficiently sophisticated deepfake tools. If actors are not available, or if a director is unwilling to pay, or they don’t have time to work on their project, technology can help them simulate the voice and face of that celebrity.

You could bring Marilyn Monroe and Daniel Radcliffe together in the next movie, just using deepfake technology.

One thing to note here is that the intentions may not always be sinister when we talk about deep fake. It could be fun, harmless, and helpful in many ways. But then the ethical question arises: Is it right to identify and write about personality? Should we use deep fakes to bring back people who are not around and create the deepfake without getting their consent?

In general, people in the entertainment industry are very concerned about the fact that if they turn down a project, it will be deepfaked, and actors may lose work.

So the big Hollywood celebrities are as concerned about issues involving artificial intelligence as any of us are. Additionally, malicious intents bring trouble in lives of these celebrities in several different way which is not only totally unethical but also is emotionally disturbing for celebrities. Deepfake of #taylorswift (5)and Rashmika Mandanna(6) of #bollywood have been victims of malicious intents.

There are bigger questions around AI ethics that need to be resolved before we take the next leap in direction. Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Resources

• How the Rise of Deepfakes Will Impact the 2024 Presidential Elections
• Tech giants come together to combat deceptive deepfakes ahead of 2024 elections
• Slovakia’s Election Deepfakes Show AI Is a Danger to Democracy
• DeSantis PAC uses AI-generated Trump voice in ad attacking ex-president
• Deepfake Horror: Taylor Swift Becomes the Latest Victim of AI Miscreants
• Rashmika Mandanna calls for action against ‘scary’ deepfake video