AI may ‘supercharge’ election disinformation, US tells the BBC

Artificial intelligence (AI) threatens to “supercharge” disinformation and incite violence at elections, the US deputy lawyer normal has warned.

Speaking solely to the BBC, Lisa Monaco described AI because the “ultimate double-edged sword”.

It may ship “profound benefits” to society but additionally be utilized by “malicious actors” to “sow chaos”, she added.

And she revealed plans to make using AI by criminals an aggravating consider sentencing in US courts.

The former federal prosecutor, who’s within the UK to ship a lecture on AI on the University of Oxford, mentioned violent criminals who used weapons got longer sentences.

“So we are going to be applying that same principle and seeking stiffer sentences and sentencing enhancements for those that use AI in a malicious way to commit their crime,” she advised the BBC.

She additionally spoke about efforts to guard the US election in November from being disrupted by AI-powered misinformation resembling deepfakes – convincing audio and video of politicians saying issues they by no means mentioned – and AI-generated faux calls, or robocalls.

Last week, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made robocalls throughout elections unlawful.

It got here after 1000’s of voters in New Hampshire obtained a cellphone name claiming to be from US President Joe Biden urging them to not vote in January’s main election.

Ms Monaco mentioned: “That is the type of action you are going to see regulators, I think, appropriately taking to try and put some guardrails around the use of these technologies, particularly when it comes to the election space.”

She mentioned the US authorities was working with tech firms and different nations, together with the UK, to fight the risk posed by AI.

But she added: “I do think we are going to see more of this, I think it is something we are just beginning to see the surface being scratched about how malicious actors can use this technology.”

With greater than two billion individuals eligible to participate in elections all over the world this yr, together with within the US, UK and India, Ms Monaco mentioned she was involved AI may have a “fundamental impact” on democracy.

This week, London mayor Sadiq Khan advised the BBC deepfake audio of him supposedly making inflammatory remarks earlier than Armistice Day nearly brought about “serious disorder”.

And the US Deputy Attorney General mentioned she too was involved about violence ensuing from AI-powered misinformation.

“I am absolutely worried… about this effort by malicious actors, nation states or otherwise, using AI generated content to spread and really supercharge mis and disinformation.

“So that may have various results. It could cause individuals to mistrust the sources of knowledge they’re getting, to dissuade them or confuse them by way of exercising their proper to vote. To incite violence, definitely that is one thing that we’re frightened, about and to simply usually sow mistrust and doubtlessly chaos.”

Ms Monaco was also keen to stress the potential benefits of AI as a crimefighting tool and something that could help in investigations and prosecutions.

The FBI was utilizing AI expertise to “sift via the guidelines that we get from the general public” and to analyse data and images in “a few of our most necessary investigations” including the US Capitol riots on 6 January 2021, she told the BBC.

Ultimately, she said, it would require a combination of action by tech firms and legislation to set the appropriate “guardrails” for AI and shield democracy.