AI-based deepfakes can be used to manipulate elections

More than 40 countries go to elections this year, including India, USA, UK, and EU. With elections just round the corner in India, the possibility of this happening is huge.
Muqbil Ahmar
  • Updated On Apr 19, 2024 at 10:43 AM IST
Read by: 100 Industry Professionals
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Cyber attacks spiked massively in poll-bound Taiwan, in a last-minute effort to influence the elections. According to a report by Trellix, cyber attacks doubled before Taiwan’s January elections. Tech-driven disinformation campaigns were carried out also during the 2016 Brexit referendum as well as the US presidential polls.

There are elections in more than 40 countries this year, which make up for more than 50 percent of the global GDP. Some of the biggest democracies of the world, including India, the UK, the EU as well as the USA, are preparing for elections. With elections just round the corner in India, the possibility of this happening is huge.

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Deepfake campaigns

In a supercharged political atmosphere, there is an increasingly greater likelihood of political leaders getting targeted by deepfakes. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was the subject of a Deepfake porn video in 2022. Such incidents are only going to increase in frequency as elections come closer and competitors leave no stone unturned to malign their opponents. Instances like the above show how they can pose a significant threat to an individual's privacy and reputation. Political leaders may find themselves at the receiving end of defamation, harassment, or even blackmail.

In the past, deepfake content has been used to disseminate misinformation about political opponents. For example, a spurious Deepfake audio was released just a few days prior to the parliamentary elections in Slovakia in 2023 in an effort to malign Michal Šimečka, the leader of Progressive Slovakia. In the clip, he is seen discussing with a journalist how to rig the voting process. Such content is often released at the last moment as there is little time for the targets to respond and by the time they do respond the damage is already done. Such experiences are wakeup calls for upcoming national elections globally.

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Contributory factors for the spread of deepfakes

There are a number of contributory factors responsible for the spread of deepfake content.

According to cybersecurity expert Varun Soni, the changing media landscape which is characterized by increasing speed and information overload is one of the responsible factors. Moreover, there is a growing importance of visual communication as well as the growing spread of mis-, dis- and mal-information. All these create a favorable environment for the spread of deepfakes.

AI-based deepfake content to witness spike

"We need to watch out. The year 2024 is going to be the year of Deepfakes. With cheap and easy availability of Generative AI technology and a number of countries going to elections in 2024, we will see large-scale use of Deepfakes to make and break reputations," says Jitendra Tripathi, VP and Head Cyber Security Operations, Jio Platforms.

Tackling deepfakes can be difficult

It is increasingly becoming difficult, expensive, and time-consuming to check the veracity of content. Election commissions, political figures and candidates, the media, as well as the people will need to respond when such cases increase.

"There are regulatory gaps and the legal roadmap remains unclear. Perpetrators often act anonymously, making it harder to hold them accountable. However, platforms could play a pivotal role in helping victims identify the perpetrators. Technology providers also have the responsibility of safeguarding the positive and legal use of their technologies. Policy makers need to take all these different dimensions into account," says Varun Soni, cybersecurity expert. Deepfake content undermines democratic principles and values.

Monitoring deepfakes

Such content clearly undermines democratic systems and will test the strength of systems which are supposed to keep the spirit of democracy alive. There will also be a need for independent media systems which can provide quality investigation in public interest. In due course, there will be a gnawing need for independent electoral administrators as well as institutions such as independent courts to adjudicate such cases.

Note: This article is part of the ' Deepfake Dialogues' series by ETCISO.

  • Published On Apr 19, 2024 at 10:43 AM IST
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