Rahul Dogra
As India prepares for the 2024 elections, concerns are growing about the impact of generative artificial intelligence techniques such as deepfakes on the integrity of democratic processes. Experts say advances in AI will allow malicious actors to create highly realistic fake images, videos and audio that could mislead voters and massively undermine election results. warned for many years.
Until recently, deepfakes were too expensive and crude to create effectively. However, this has changed significantly in recent years. Powerful generative AI tools have made it possible to mass-produce manipulated media such as ultra-realistic images and videos within seconds at minimal cost.
Additionally, sophisticated generative AI tools can now create human voice clones and hyper-realistic audio in seconds at minimal cost. What would you do if a celebrity like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli or Amitabh Bachchan personally called you and asked you to vote for a particular candidate?” You hear this song with admiration for celebrities, but it’s actually a cloned voice, not a real one. Combined with social media algorithms, this fake AI-generated content (including celebrity voice clones) could target a limited audience in a short period of time and distort elections by spreading misinformation. I have. The ability to create cloned voices that mimic public figures with full believability adds an insidious dimension to AI’s threat to Indian democracy.
The threat of celebrity voice clones is of particular concern, as using a familiar and trusted name increases legitimacy and credibility. AI-powered data analytics and social media targeting will enable political parties to micro-target voters with highly customized messaging and advertising. This level of precision targeting could sway cautious voters.
The threat of deepfakes looms large over India’s upcoming elections. Politicians and political parties leveraging generative AI may gain an advantage as manipulated content targeting dissidents spreads rapidly online. However, the Election Commission currently has no regulations on deepfakes or AI-manipulated campaign content. And while the Indian government is considering new policies on AI technology, there are no current laws prohibiting the use of deepfakes in Indian elections.
Consider another scenario where a deepfake video of spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar personally endorsing a particular candidate emerges. Many of his followers would be influenced to vote for the candidate, but the video wasn’t actually his, it was a cloned deepfake. The influence of such ghostly figures, especially coupled with the widespread sharing of manipulated videos on social media platforms, makes it difficult to counteract the impact of such deepfakes.
While most political consulting firms are likely to advise against the official use of deepfakes for ethical reasons, third parties and online trolls are creating and disseminating AI-manipulated content that targets candidates. is expected to. Voters will find it difficult to distinguish between genuine content and AI-generated content.
More threats involve AI tools that analyze vast amounts of social media and online data, giving parties deep insight into public sentiment, voter preferences and potential voter turnout. increase. You can then adjust your campaign accordingly to maximize your support. AI bots can be deployed at scale to spread favorable content and attack adversaries and space public opinion. The anonymity of bots makes it difficult to track and regulate their impact.
Possible solutions to mitigate the threat of deepfakes include banning their creation/proliferation during elections, requiring social media platforms to label political content manipulated to educate voters, AI These include introducing intra-party policies to avoid generated content, launching voter awareness campaigns, and embedding cybersecurity/fact-checking. These include school curricula, transparency mandates to identify the actors behind political advertising, and the development of digital literacy initiatives to improve skills in verifying information and detecting online manipulation.
How Indian stakeholders handle the deepfake challenge of democracy will shape the future of Indian elections. At a time when generative deepfakes pose serious risks, India needs to act swiftly and decisively to regulate the use of deepfakes while providing its citizens with the knowledge and tools to identify manipulated media. must be taken.
Now is the time to act to maximize the benefits of AI to democracy while minimizing its potential harm. A holistic strategy is needed that includes policies, regulations, industry practices, education and awareness-raising efforts. Without concerted action, deepfakes threaten to undermine the integrity of elections, spread mass disinformation, and undermine public trust in India’s democratic institutions. Democracy itself could be at risk if India fails to effectively meet the growing challenges to democratic governance in the age of AI.
