In May, an unsettling video surfaced on social media, seemingly the handiwork of a Donald Trump aficionado. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was portrayed in an uncomplimentary imitation of a character from vintage sitcom, ‘The Office’. Impeccably superimposed with DeSantis's face and voice, the video's artificial realism made it unnervingly authentic.
Unlike obviously edited 'deep fake' videos, this instance was disconcertingly genuine, a testament to the growing use of artificial intelligence in media. Candidates and activists are increasingly using such techniques to sway voters, creating a deceptive terrain that shakes the foundation of democratic processes.
With understated content control measures on social media platforms, this trend poses a significant threat, likely to overshadow previous politically motivated interferences, like Russia's involvement in the 2016 presidential elections.
Despite a history of media manipulation, the US still grapples with an antiquated legal framework, failing to curtail the dissemination of harmful misinformation. It's high time to initiate reform, but a challenge remains in ensuring this does not infringe upon our First Amendment right — the freedom of speech.
This precious right has complicated the regulation of election campaign finances, giving monied individuals the power to sway political outcomes unduly.
A recent legal parallel provides a glimmer of hope. A Brooklyn court ruled against a network lead that spread racially targeted misinformation during the 2016 presidential elections. This ruling asserted that the misuse of free speech to manipulate elections will not remain unchecked. However, its scope remains limited to misinformation related to voting procedures only.
In a similar case, operatives using robocalls for voter suppression were deemed guilty, further cementing such an approach. Now, it's crucial that all states adapt this principle into laws, along with stringent punitive measures.
Washington State has introduced a mandatory disclosure for all manipulated election-related content. This policy should echo throughout the country. Additionally, Congress should support such state-level initiatives by levying strict penalties and providing necessary resources to prevent international misinformation campaigns.
Lastly, the judicial precedent should extend to encompass deceptive tactics that involve disseminating falsehood about election candidates. Mitigating the weaponization of lies requires a balance between preserving political rhetoric and preventing harm. To quote the Roman poet Virgil, rumors or in this case, misinformation, are the fastest-spreading evil, a notion we must immediately address to preserve our democratic society.
