In a statement released on September 5th, the office of New York State Attorney General Letitia James unveiled an election guide aimed at assisting voters in avoiding the influence of election misinformation generated by artificial intelligence (AI) leading up to the November elections. The initiative, titled “Protecting New Yorkers from Election Misinformation Generated by AI”, aims to safeguard voters from the impact of misleading information created by AI.
Attorney General Letitia James expressed concerns over the proliferation of deepfake content generated by AI, which can spread falsehoods about candidates, policy proposals, and even mislead New Yorkers about voting locations, posing a dangerous threat to democracy.
To protect New Yorkers from the intrusion of AI-generated election misinformation, the Attorney General’s office advises individuals to consult the New York State and local election boards for information and inquiries regarding polling locations, times, or methods. It is cautioned against relying on chatbots to address election or voting-related queries.
Furthermore, the office recommends that individuals report any suspected deepfake content on social media platforms. If receiving information regarding elections or voting from unofficial sources, it is advised to verify with official channels. Caution is advised when viewing images, audio, and videos related to election activities circulating online. If the content appears sensationalized or dubious, exercising vigilance against potential misinformation and refraining from sharing questionable content is recommended.
The detailed guidelines have been made available on the Attorney General Letitia James’ office webpage at: https://ag.ny.gov/