It's Election Season in India! 🇮🇳 with Deepfakes, Chatbots & AI Showdown 🤖

EDITOR’S NOTE

Dear Reader, the election season is on us!

As the election for the world’s largest democracy kicks off, political parties have acknowledged employing AI tools in their campaigns, underlining its crucial role.

2014: First-time digital campaigning through social media

2019: Personalized campaigns through WhatsApp

2024: First-time AI will be used for citizen outreach

Even Elon Musk thinks an AI candidate could win the 2032 US Presidential elections! 🤯 

Today, we will explore the profound impact that AI has had on elections, worldwide.

In Today’s Newsletter:

• AI in Elections: Deepfakes for Electoral Campaigns & Citizen Engagement

• Meta Muzzles AI Chatbot: Election Queries Get Redirected

• Ballots and Bots: AI Stirs the Pot in Record Election Year

• AI BJP vs AI Congress: Who Will Lead the AI Revolution?

• Latest AI News from Around the World

TOP NEWS
Deepfakes in Campaigns: Can AI Win Elections?

An AI startup, The Indian Deepfaker, in Rajasthan, creates avatars for political campaigning, producing thousands of personalized videos and calls using Bollywood-style avatars and cloned voices of politicians.

Why is it relevant?
Utilizing AI for mass outreach is transforming Indian politics, enabling personalized communication in local languages on an unprecedented scale, potentially reshaping electoral engagement while raising concerns about information authenticity and voter manipulation in a digitally evolving society. Read More

TOP NEWS
Election-shy AI? Meta Blocks Election-related Queries

Meta AI is testing its chatbot across major platforms in India, blocking election-related queries to curb misinformation, and directing users to the Election Commission for verified information.

Why is it relevant?
Amidst concerns over digital misinformation, Meta's cautious approach highlights the tech industry's role in safeguarding election integrity by filtering content and promoting reliable sources, thereby fostering a more informed and less manipulated electorate in the digital age. Read More

NANOBITS RESEARCH
Elections with AI: Doubts in Global Democracy Drama

In a year with a record number of elections, 83, in nations representing over 41% of the global population and 42% of the world's GDP, realistic AI-generated content poses a threat to democratic discourse. While not a "disinformation nightmare" yet, it can be used to manipulate voters, spread misinformation, and undermine trust in elections.

In this segment, we explore how AI has already been impacting the democratic discourse.

1. The AIADMK used AI to recreate a speech by the late J Jayalalithaa, urging support for its candidates in the 2024 elections. Although there is no clear labeling of it as AI-generated, the clip begins with a nod to the technology enabling her "return." Read More

2. In 2021, Bihar's Election Commission (BEC) tied up with Staqu and used AI and OCR to analyze CCTV footage from counting booths during the panchayat elections to achieve complete transparency and eliminate any chances of manipulation. Read More

3. PM Modi harnessed AI to shape India's 25-year strategy using over 1.5 million people's input, aiming to balance innovation and regulation amid a burgeoning local GenAI market. Read More

4. A viral video claimed Aamir Khan endorsed Congress for the 2024 elections; a fact-check revealed it was an AI-altered old clip from his show “Satyamev Jayate”, with false claims. Read More

5. The spread of disinformation, exemplified by a deepfake of Tarique Rahman suggesting a toning down of support for Gaza’s bombing victims and Meta's slow response in taking it down, highlights content moderation challenges exacerbated by staff cuts, leaving voters from less prominent regions vulnerable. Read More

6. A deepfake video on Facebook showed Indonesian VP-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka disparaging recipients of a free lunch program, which was debunked by TurnBackHoax as AI-generated audio. Read More

7. A viral video on X showed Donald Trump supporting the jailed Imran Khan, promising his release if elected. Fact-checkers identified it as AI-manipulated, likely made using Parrot AI. Read More

If you are more interested, Rest of World, a nonprofit news site that covers stories from outside North America and Europe, is tracking the most noteworthy incidents of AI-generated election content globally, throughout 2024.

Addressing AI-generated content's impact on elections requires coordination across governments, AI firms, and social media platforms, focusing on development, distribution, and detection strategies.

• Development involves watermarking and provenance to signal AI origin

• Distribution strategies include revising media policies and enhancing cross-platform information sharing

• Detection efforts need investment in better AI detection tools and broader research access, supplemented by extensive voter education on digital literacy to discern credible versus generated content.

INDIA’S AI AGENDA

While the BJP is focusing on regulation and responsible AI development, the Congress is emphasizing leveraging AI for economic growth and job creation. Whose stance on AI resonates more with your views?

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