A recent survey on how AI and deepfakes are changing politics on Real Research, an online survey app, explores public concerns surrounding AI and deepfakes in politics to control the elections nationwide. The use of technology to win elections is not something most people fear, but using AI-generated deepfakes to spread misleading videos and images instills a new fear in minds.

Subsequently, this insight sheds light on the dangers of AI and deepfakes in politics, as many past events can be a result of such advanced technology.

Highlight:

  • 66.80% of respondents agree that they have encountered AI and deepfakes in politics.
  • 67.04% of respondents are deeply concerned that these AI-generated voices sound like real people.
  • 73.12% are positive that these AI-generated deepfakes have made them not believe everything at face value.

New AI Fear Is Spreading

As per the survey, 66.80% of the respondents have encountered AI-generated deepfake political content while on social media.

Additionally, a further 67.04% are ‘extremely’ concerned about the fact that these AI-generated voices sound like real people. 73.12% of those who interacted with AI-generated deepfakes are questioning everything they see and hear.

Read Also: Use of AI and Deepfakes Ethically Unacceptable, Opined 85.51% In a Study

It is a disturbing fact that even the basic human right to information is being manipulated using this advanced technology.

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Figure 1: Respondent insights on AI deepfakes in political campaigns.

Regulation on AI-Generated Deepfakes

There is no doubt that artificial intelligence deepfakes are a threat to elections, as they give unrestricted power to political parties to create a false narrative about the opposition party or even target specific influential political figures. Meanwhile, 53.58% believe that it’s important to keep elections as legitimate as possible.

Read Also: Deepfakes of Donald Trump Posing With African Americans– Is this a “Strategic Narrative”? 

70.58% of Americans support the bill that lawmakers from 27 states made to regulate AI and deepfakes in elections.

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Use of AI and Deepfakes Ethically Unacceptable, Opined 85.51% In a Study

Awareness about AI and Deepfakes

68.66% agree that creating awareness about this issue is the solution, in addition to government regulations on  AI and deepfakes in politics.

As people are more affixed to social media, relying on information about anything and everything, this calls for a need to create awareness among people to differentiate between AI-generated deepfake content and original content.

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Figure 3: Respondents insight on AI content awareness campaigns.

Awareness and the ability to recognize AI and deepfakes in politics serve as a crucial step toward shaping new policies that navigate the complexities of AI and deepfake technology and their implications on our society.

Methodology

 
Survey TitleSurvey on How AI and Deepfakes Are Changing Politics
DurationApril 28 – May 4, 2024
Number of Participants5,000
DemographicsMales and females, aged 21 to 99
Participating Countries Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia,… Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong) China (Macao), China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greanada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Maluritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar [Burma], Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.