The emergence of political deepfakes presents a disturbing new frontier in the battle against disinformation. These hyper-realistic forgeries use generative artificial intelligence (AI) to mimic political figures and it threatens to further erode our democracy.

In New Hampshire, a deepfake audio used AI to imitate President Joe Biden in an attempt to suppress the vote before the primary election. Such instances highlight the urgent need for increased vigilance and countermeasures to protect the integrity of democratic processes worldwide.

As deepfake technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated, the window of opportunity to mitigate its dangers is rapidly closing.

Everything from declaring war, admitting to a crime, or engaging in unethical behavior can go viral before the falsehood is uncovered. The immediate and long-lasting consequences on public opinion, diplomatic relations, and national stability could be extremely dangerous.

The Illinois Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act serves as a model for national legislation. It mandates clear disclosures for any AI-generated political content, which is essential for voters to make informed decisions and know which messages are genuine and which are the product of artificial intelligence.

Now, Congress must follow this model and act promptly to establish a legal framework that effectively addresses this challenge by not only countering the technological threat but also by preserving the foundational principles of truth and trust in our democratic system.

Tell Congress to introduce and pass legislation that combats dangerous political deepfakes now!