Preventing Election Interference in Democratic Systems

Good news for democracy and countering misinformation: prebunking and credible source corrections increase election credibility. Check out our new study published by Science Advances: https://lnkd.in/e5CPQ3fW In this research project, we employed survey experiments with thousands of participants and focused on the so-called "electoral fraud" in the United States and Brazil due to the many parallels we could find in the countries, including false allegations by Trump and Bolsonaro when they tried to be reelected for the first time (2020 and 2022). Both in Brazil and the United States, credible sources and prebunking corrections increase electoral confidence and correct misperceptions about electoral fraud. In Brazil, prebunking was the most effective solution. These approaches almost always increased confidence in election results retrospectively and prospectively. What now? Our research suggests that factual information educating people about electoral systems (e.g., explaining how they work and how reliability is assessed) may be the primary way to protect democracy, prevent the spread of false allegations, and even address and correct misperceptions. Big thanks to the co-authors and study leaders, John Carey, Brian Fogarty, Brendan Nyhan & Jason Reifler. Centre for Media and Journalism Studies (RUG)

DeepFakeWarning | The Emerging Threat in the Digital Landscape In the wake of recent events, including the Deep Fake video of Bollywood celebrity Kajol and Prime Minister Modi's address on the issue, it's imperative to discuss the escalating challenges posed by Deep Fake technology. As a Cyber Security and Public Policy Specialist, I've been closely monitoring the evolution of Deep Fakes. This innovative technology poses significant threats to the integrity of information, personal security, and democratic processes. The faster a video goes viral, the more profound its impact – a reality we cannot ignore in today's digital age. 🔹 Disinformation Campaigns: We've witnessed sophisticated disinformation campaigns, some originating from China, that leverage Deep Fakes. These campaigns are not just about spreading false information but are designed to create chaos distrust, and manipulate public opinion. 🔹 Election Security: With elections on the horizon, the potential for Deep Fakes to interfere in the democratic process is a grave concern. The ability to create hyper-realistic fake videos can undermine the credibility of candidates, sway public opinion, and even incite unrest. 🔹 Regulatory Response: As someone who has advised the Government of India on Cyber Security Strategy, I believe it's crucial for regulatory bodies to step up. We need robust policies and legal frameworks to combat the misuse of Deep Fake technology, especially in sensitive areas like politics and public safety. 🔹 Public Awareness and Responsibility: Equally important is raising public awareness. Digital literacy and critical thinking are vital in discerning accurate information from fakes. As consumers of digital content, we must be vigilant and question the authenticity of what we see online. 🔹 Tech Industry's Role: I urge tech companies to engage in this battle actively. Advanced detection tools, ethical guidelines, and collaborative efforts are essential to mitigate the risks associated with Deep Fakes. In conclusion, while Deep Fake technology showcases the remarkable advancements in AI and digital media, it also brings forth ethical and security challenges that we must address collectively. As we navigate this complex landscape, let's stay informed, vigilant, and proactive in safeguarding our digital ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/dbQkj-E5 #CyberSecurity #PublicPolicy #DigitalLiteracy #ElectionSecurity #AI #TechEthics #DeepFakeWarning #CyberSecurity #DigitalLiteracy #ElectionSecurity #TechEthics #PublicPolicy #InformationIntegrity #AIResponsibility #Disinformation #techpolicy

The protection of electoral processes is crucial for EU citizens to engage, discuss and make up their minds in a safe way. This is why earlier this week the Commission and the DSA Board published an Elections Toolkit that offers practical details for national authorities, known as Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs), on how to implement the Digital Services Act Election Guidelines to safeguard election integrity. The DSA Elections Toolkit, which builds on the Election Guidelines for very large online platforms and search engines published in March 2024, includes a set of best practices that helps DSCs in their work with the platforms to mitigate risks like hate speech, online harassment, and manipulation of public opinion, while safeguarding freedom of expression. It’s also a crucial component of the Commission's and Member States' ongoing efforts to help safeguard the integrity of electoral processes in the EU. 🔗 https://europa.eu/!QQ3DnQ

This year, nearly half of the world’s population will be heading to the polls — The rapid rise of deep fake content may erode public trust in democratic elections and amplify existing divisions within societies.    Deepfake content — realistic AI-generated content that can impersonate one’s likeness — has the potential to undermine the electoral process by blurring the lines in the minds of voters between what is authentic and what is fraudulent.     Policymakers across the globe can help stop the spread of election-related, AI-generated deepfake content that deceptively impersonates candidates or spreads disinformation about the electoral process by enacting legislation that would protect against these efforts. In the United States, the bipartisan Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act would ban the use of AI to generate deepfake content that falsely depicts federal candidates in political advertisements that intend to influence elections.     IBM has consistently advocated for risk-based regulations to target the harmful applications of all technology — not just AI. This is key to safeguarding elections and democracy worldwide. https://lnkd.in/gF8MXM-S 

A new paper out today from Ales Cap and me sets out how to design new 'Electoral Integrity Institutions' to protect against the threat of disruption by deepfakes and misinformation. At present there are no institutions with the powers and capabilities needed to defend democracy against these novel threats. There is lots of hand-wringing: this paper proposes a practical response and argues that it's far better to act before disaster strikes rather than after. https://lnkd.in/g45AvnWz

https://lnkd.in/e7WJxCEb *Note:"PREBUNKING," not debunking, activities can generate positive effect. "Despite its January 13 election being assailed by a deluge of online disinformation — particularly, false voter fraud claims and dire warnings of future war from bad actors in China — new research and independent journalistic accounts reveal that local media, election authorities, and fact checkers in Taiwan were largely successful in repelling assaults, with techniques such as 'prebunking,' smart communications regulation, and a deliberate focus on media trust. After the vote, Lai Ching-te — head of the pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party, which is opposed by Communist China’s autocratic government — was elected president. However, Taiwan’s election revealed disinformation trends for journalists and fact checkers in other countries to flag. These patterns included the use of generative AI in deepfakes, propaganda amplification by popular YouTube influencers, and foreign information operation narratives designed to undermine trust in democracy itself, rather than to promote individual candidates."

"An Agenda to Strengthen US Democracy in the Age of AI," is a new report published this month by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law. I am honored to have gotten to play a small part in drafting, reviewing and brainstorming for this fantastic report by Mekela Panditharatne, Larry Norden, Joanna Zdanys, Daniel Weiner and Yasmin Abusaif. This report provides a blueprint that is especially relevant for state legislators and election administrators to shore up democracy protections at a time when it couldn't be more important. From the introduction: The year 2024 began with bold predictions about how the United States would see its first artificial intelligence (AI) election. Commentators worried that generative AI — a branch of AI that can create new images, audio, video, and text — could produce deepfakes that would so inundate users of social media that they would be unable to separate truth from fiction when making voting decisions. Meanwhile, some self-labeled techno-optimists proselytized how AI could revolutionize voter outreach and fundraising, thereby leveling the playing field for campaigns that otherwise could not afford expensive political consultants and staff. As the election played out, AI was employed in numerous ways: Foreign adversaries used the technology to augment their election interference by creating copycat news sites filled with what appeared to be AI-generated fake stories. Campaigns leveraged deepfake technology to convincingly imitate politicians and produce misleading advertisements. Activists deployed AI systems to support voter suppression efforts. Candidates and supporters used AI tools to build political bot networks, translate materials, design eye-catching memes, and assist in voter outreach. And election officials experimented with AI to draft social media content and provide voters with important information like polling locations and hours of operation. Of course, AI likely was also used during this election in ways that have not yet come into focus and may only be revealed months or even years from now. Were the fears and promises overhyped? Yes and no. It would be a stretch to claim that AI transformed U.S. elections last year to either effect, and the worst-case scenarios did not come to pass. But AI did play a role that few could have imagined a mere two years ago, and a review of that role offers some important clues as to how, as the technology becomes even more sophisticated and widely adopted, AI could alter U.S. elections — and American democracy more broadly — in the coming years. University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business | California Initiative for Technology and Democracy | Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) | University of California, Berkeley | ICSI - International Computer Science Institute #AI #Elections #Democracy

With over 2 billion voters heading to the polls in 2024, election security is more important than ever. Our latest research outlines the diversity of targets, tactics, and threats within the election cyber security landscape. In our writeup, we highlight the variety of election-related targets. This includes election systems, administrators, campaigns, and voters. The nature of cyber threat activity facing these different entities can vary dramatically. It's also vital to appreciate the variety of threat vectors at play. Many actors and operations combine cyber espionage, disruptive campaigns, and information operations. This makes it essential to not only prepare for a variety of cyber risks, but also understand how they come together. Our research outlines a variety of relevant threats including state-sponsored actors, cyber criminals, hacktivists, insider threats, and information operations as-a-service. We also discuss how state threats are far wider than just a Russia problem by highlighting actors linked to Iran, China, and North Korea that also pose a credible threat to elections (depending on the region). Ultimately, understanding the threats we are up against provides an opportunity to build a more proactive and tailored security posture to defending elections. https://lnkd.in/ebx9cZjA