The rise of artificial intelligence in political campaigns has raised concerns about the potential for deepfakes to sway voters in local elections. A recent example of this is the satirical TV commercial that targeted Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, depicting him as a high school student who had been called into the principal’s office. The ad, created with “deep learning computer technology,” was powerful and resonated with voters, ultimately contributing to Perkins’ loss in the 2022 race. This incident highlights the vulnerability of down-ballot campaigns to AI-generated misinformation, which can be particularly devastating in close races where slight shifts in voter opinion can make all the difference. As AI technology becomes more widespread and accessible, the lack of regulation and safeguards in place to combat AI-generated falsehoods poses a significant threat to the integrity of local elections.
AI Deepfakes Threaten Local Elections
The technology — which can do everything from streamlining mundane campaign tasks to creating fake images, video or audio — already has been deployed in some national races around the country and has spread far more widely in elections across the globe.
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