The Rise of Deepfakes in Politics
Deepfakes, artificially generated or manipulated media, have been a source of concern in politics since 2018. The recent posting of an AI-generated video of Queensland Premier Steven Miles dancing on TikTok by the Liberal National party has reignited these worries in Australia. While the video was clearly marked as AI-generated and had obvious tells, it has sparked discussions about the potential impact on democracy.
Key Developments and Implications
- Deepfakes in politics are becoming more prevalent, with recent examples including AI-generated robocalls imitating Joe Biden and viral videos of Kamala Harris on TikTok.
- Some politicians are using generative AI for campaign purposes, such as creating multilingual campaign songs.
- Experts warn that the threat lies not just in the technology itself, but in the broader political culture that undermines institutions responsible for fact-checking.
- The combination of deepfakes with targeted advertising and personal data could lead to highly personalized political campaigns designed to manipulate individual voters.
The Broader Context
The rise of deepfakes is occurring within a degraded information ecosystem, characterized by online misinformation, conspiracy theories, and engagement-driven algorithms. This environment makes it challenging to distinguish fact from fiction and raises concerns about the erosion of public discourse. While deepfakes alone may not immediately topple democracy, they contribute to the broader erosion of trust in media and political institutions, potentially leading to what experts call “information rot.”
