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AI had little effect on the US election results but digital platforms need to be held accountable for disinformation, according to Labor senator Tony Sheldon, the chair of a parliamentary inquiry.
The Select Committee on Adopting Artificial Intelligence delayed its final report so it could study the impact of AI on the presidential election in the US.
Donald Trump won the US election after securing 312 electoral college votes, exceeding the benchmark of 270 to become president.
Sheldon believes the presidential race was clouded by disinformation.
“It is clear that disinformation was deployed during the US election, including content identified as coming from Russia, although it did not appear to cause major disruption,” he told AdNews.
“However, the most notable incidents, including fake videos circulated on social media platforms purporting to show ballot fraud and hoax bomb threats called into polling places, were not AI-generated.
“The continued attempts by Russia to interfere in elections in the US and other democracies highlight the importance of holding social media platforms accountable for the content they publish.”
Russia, China and Iran have used “malicious cyber actors” to sow discord and shape the outcome of US elections for their own benefit, according to the ODNI, FBI and CISA.
US officials said influence actors linked to Russia manufactured videos and created fake articles to undermine the legitimacy of the election and instill fear in voters.
“The IC (intelligence community) assesses that Russian influence actors recently posted and amplified an article falsely claiming that US officials across swing states plan to orchestrate election fraud using a range of tactics, such as ballot stuffing and cyberattacks,” the statement said.
“Russian influence actors also manufactured and amplified a recent video that falsely depicted an interview with an individual claiming election fraud in Arizona, which involved creating fake overseas ballots and changing voter rolls to favor vice president Kamala Harris.”
Australia is proposing to fine digital platforms millions of dollars if they allow harmful misinformation and disinformation online.
Sheldon said the federal government has also committed to setting guardrails around high-risk uses of AI.
“The Albanese Government’s disinformation laws hold social media platforms accountable for outright disinformation that could damage trust in Australian democracy,” he said.
“It’s important we monitor how electoral deepfakes are impacting elections around the world and identify solutions that can maintain and bolster trust in our democratic processes and institutions while protecting free speech.”
A parliamentary inquiry is worried at the potential for AI to manipulate public opinion and perception on a massive scale.
An interim report has called on the federal government to implement, ahead of the next Australian federal election, voluntary codes relating to watermarking and credentialing of AI-generated content.
The committee also recommended a review of potential responses to deepfake content, laws restricting the production or dissemination of AI-generated political material and that the mandatory guardrails also apply to AI systems used in an electoral setting.
The parliamentary committee is expected to release its final findings on November 26.
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