Bipartisan Bill Targets AI Misinformation in Political Campaigns

AI regulation in political campaigns: Lawmakers are introducing bipartisan legislation to prohibit the use of artificial intelligence for misrepresenting political opponents in campaigns and political advertising.

• The bill aims to give the Federal Election Commission (FEC) the authority to regulate AI use in elections, similar to how it has regulated other forms of political misrepresentation for decades.
• This legislation comes as Congress has struggled to keep pace with regulating rapidly evolving AI technology, raising concerns about its potential to overwhelm voters with misinformation.
• Experts have expressed particular worry about the dangers posed by “deepfakes,” which are AI-generated videos and memes that can appear lifelike and cause voter confusion.

Key sponsors and supporters: The bipartisan effort brings together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to address the growing concern over AI misuse in politics.

• Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) are co-sponsoring the legislation.
• The bill has garnered support from consumer rights organizations, with Craig Holman, a government affairs lobbyist for Public Citizen, assisting in drafting the legislation.

Scope and limitations: While the proposed bill is seen as a necessary first step, lawmakers acknowledge its limitations and the need for further action.

• The legislation focuses specifically on prohibiting the use of AI to misrepresent political opponents by pretending to be them.
• Rep. Schiff described the bill as addressing “the lowest hanging fruit” in terms of AI misuse in politics, emphasizing that much more needs to be done to combat misinformation and disinformation.
• The bill aims to expand the FEC’s jurisdiction to explicitly account for the rapid rise of generative AI in political communications.

Challenges and opposition: Despite bipartisan support, the bill faces hurdles in the current political climate and concerns about potential negative impacts on innovation.

• Sponsors acknowledge that the odds of the bill passing this year are low, although they hope it could be attached to a must-pass measure in the final days of the congressional session.
• Opposition to AI regulation has primarily focused on concerns about stifling innovation in the technology sector and potentially ceding leadership in AI development to other countries.
• Rep. French Hill (R-AR) highlighted the need for a “balancing act” between regulation and allowing AI innovation to flourish.

Broader context: The proposed legislation comes amid increasing attention to the role of AI in elections and existing efforts to address the issue.

• The FEC has already taken initial steps toward regulating AI-generated deepfakes in political advertising, with further discussions expected.
• Some states have passed laws to regulate deepfakes, but federal legislation is seen as necessary to give the FEC clear authority on a national level.
• Other bipartisan efforts are also underway, including legislation introduced by Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) and Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) aimed at curbing the spread of unauthorized AI-generated deepfakes.

Looking ahead: The introduction of this bill marks a significant step in addressing AI-related concerns in political campaigns, but challenges remain.

• The effectiveness of the legislation, if passed, will depend on the FEC’s ability to enforce regulations and adapt to rapidly evolving AI technologies.
• As AI continues to advance, lawmakers and regulators will likely need to revisit and expand upon these initial efforts to address new challenges and forms of misuse in political communications.
• The ongoing debate surrounding AI regulation in politics highlights the need for a delicate balance between protecting electoral integrity and fostering technological innovation.