Deepfake Dilemma: Is AI a Threat to Democracy? How Can Deepfake Videos Impact Election Integrity? What You Need to Know

Deepfake Dilemma: Spreading fake news during elections was already a big problem. Now AI is making this problem even more serious. Especially by creating deepfake videos, AI can cause a lot of disturbance in elections. The shadow of deepfake in the Lok Sabha elections! A big challenge for leaders, parties and voters. Find here is What You Need to Know-

Deepfake is a technology through which by making some changes in anyone’s photo or video, he can be shown talking or speaking exactly like someone else. It looks real. This time the shadow of such deepfake technology is there in the Lok Sabha elections.

In elections, videos of politicians who are no longer in this world are also being made using deepfake technology. Recently, a video of late DMK party leader M Karunanidhi has appeared on the big screen. In this video, Karunanidhi’s entire style has been copied. In the video, Karunanidhi is shown in trademark black glasses, white shirt and a yellow shawl around his neck.

In the video, Karunanidhi is shown giving an 8-minute speech. Along with this, TR Balu has been congratulated on the launch of his autobiography. Karunanidhi’s video has also been used to praise the capable leadership of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Let us tell you that Karunanidhi passed away in the year 2018 itself.

Political parties have got a new weapon!

Political parties are constantly organizing rallies and public meetings for election campaigning. Now they have also got a new weapon. This is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Political parties are sharing photos and videos made with the help of AI on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X. Their purpose can be to praise their party candidates, make fun of opponents or send a message directly to the voters.

During the elections, almost every political party, including BJP and Congress, has shared photos or videos created through Artificial Intelligence (AI) on their official social media accounts at least four times. These altered photos or videos are commonly called ‘deepfakes’.

With the help of AI, any leader’s voice can be copied exactly, so leaders can also use voice cloning tools to woo voters in elections. Till now, during elections, we used to get calls with recorded messages in which some leader used to ask for votes. Everyone knows this. But now with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI), you can be addressed by name at the beginning of the call. This can make election campaigning more personal.

Deepfake is being used since 2014

The use of techniques to create confusion in election campaigns is not a new thing. According to the report, deepfake is being used since 2014. In 2012 itself, BJP used 3D hologram photo of Narendra Modi. With this technique, it seemed as if Narendra Modi was campaigning at many places simultaneously. This technique was also used on a large scale in the 2014 general elections. However, nowadays deepfake videos are being used.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari is the first leader to use deepfake technology. Before the Delhi assembly elections in February 2020, he addressed the voters in Hindi, Haryanvi and English. So that his message could reach people of three different languages. Only his Hindi speech was real, the other two videos were deepfakes. His voice and words were changed using AI, as well as his gestures and lip movements were also changed so that it becomes almost impossible to recognize that these are not real.

Does deepfake take away the freedom of choice from voters?

Voting was going on for the assembly elections in Telangana on 30 November 2023. Voters were standing in line to cast their votes when a video came on their WhatsApp. This video allegedly showed the then Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) leader KT Rama Rao appealing to vote for the Congress. 

Actually, this video was a deepfake. Meaning, this video was created using AI technology and an attempt was made to make it look real. This is an example of how deepfakes can influence elections and the decision of who the citizens vote for can be changed.

The challenge of deepfake before the Election Commission

It is very difficult to identify fake news created using deepfake technology. The Commission does not have adequate resources to deal with deepfake technology. The Election Commission has to ensure that freedom of expression is not violated.

However, in this year’s Lok Sabha elections , the Election Commission is planning to use AI tools to catch irregularities at thousands of sensitive polling stations. If there is any irregularity at the polling booth, such as the absence of polling officers or the presence of more people than the limit, these AI tools will immediately inform the Election Commission.

How is Meta preparing for the 2024 elections?

Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp’s parent company Meta recently said in a blog post that soon advertisers around the world will be required to tell if they have used AI to create or change ads based on any political or social issue. Also, Meta is building tools to identify AI images created by companies like Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, Adobe, Midjourney and Shutterstock. If a user posts such pictures on Facebook, Instagram or Threads, they will be labeled.

Meta is trying to ensure that no false information related to the elections is spread on its platform. For this, Meta has around 40,000 employees working all over the world. Since 2016, the company has spent more than $20 billion on the team and technology. Out of these 40 thousand people, 15,000 people review the content posted on Facebook, Instagram and Threads. These reviewers understand more than 70 languages, including 20 Indian languages.

Meta said that to stop the spread of misinformation on social media, it is important to tell the truth to the users. For this, a campaign has been running since February, named ‘Know What’s Real’. This campaign teaches people to identify misinformation on WhatsApp and Instagram.

The world’s top security experts have also expressed concern

26 security experts together prepared a report last year, in which they have warned about the possible malicious propaganda caused by AI in the next ten years. They say that voice cloning and photo videos created with deepfake tools can be used to change the opinion of voters in elections. ‘Bots’ spreading fake information on social media and in news can also influence elections.

This 100-page report states that misuse of AI can put three types of security at risk – digital security, physical security and political security. According to the report, public opinion can be manipulated on a large scale in a desired manner using AI. Fake videos that look completely real can be spread to specific people.

What does the law say?

There is no specific law in India yet that talks about punishing those who use and create AI or deepfake technology. Under the current law, a person cannot be prosecuted for spreading fake news unless there is a threat to the sovereignty, unity or integrity of India.

However, action can still be taken under the existing law Indian Penal Code 1860, new law Indian Justice Code 2023, Information Technology Act 2000 or IT Rules 2021 for spreading false information or defaming someone.

Deepfakes can become a big problem in the coming times. Therefore, it is important that we do not immediately trust every post seen on social media. First check the information thoroughly, only then trust it.