Singer Taylor Swift has officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the forthcoming presidential election after being photoshopped with images of supporting Donald Trump. Swift's decision was driven by the worrying trend of misuse of artificial intelligence in political communication.
Endorsement of Harris
In an Instagram post right after the vice-presidential debate, Swift reaffirmed her support for Harris, noting that Harris stands up for issues important to her, including LGBTQ+ rights and access to reproductive health care.
AI Dangers in Political Campaigns
Apart from the endorsement, Swift also posted about the potential dangers of AI deepfakes on Instagram. She highlighted AI-altered photos posted by Trump’s campaign, where she was depicted as supporting the former president. One image showed Swift wearing a 'Swifties for Trump' t-shirt, and another image falsely portrayed her in an Uncle Sam outfit supporting Trump.
Countermeasures Against Deepfakes
The use of AI in political campaigns has become rampant, raising questions. Some politicians, including Trump, are said to have used AI in disseminating fake news. For instance, Midjourney has prohibited the creation of images of political leaders. Grok has also been accused of providing misleading information about the election. Other platforms, including ChatGPT and Google Gemini, have also introduced measures to prevent fake news. As previously highlighted by Cryptopolitan, Lingo Telecom, a voice service provider, recently reached a settlement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for $1 million. The company was accused of supporting AI-based automated calls that swayed voters of the 2024 New Hampshire primary election. This follows several calls received by New Hampshire residents on January 21, 2024, with a voice resembling President Joe Biden’s, saying that if targets voted in the state’s presidential primary, they would not be allowed to vote in the November general election. It is worth noting that some U.S. states have enacted laws on deepfakes during elections. California has recently passed several bills aimed at governing the AI industry, specifically deepfakes. Hawaii, Louisiana, and New Hampshire have also passed similar laws governing AI use in elections.
Swift showcased her concern about the use of AI in political campaigns and publicly supported Kamala Harris, emphasizing the importance of rights and truth in politics.
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