Artificial intelligence begins to weaken democracy. “NYT” alerts

Artificial intelligence (AI) begins to weaken democracy – alerts the American newspaper “New York Times”. AI has already been used during election campaigns in at least 50 countries, including Poland.

“There has long been a threat that artificial intelligence would transform the electoral process in the world. There is evidence from at least 50 countries that it has already happened” – wrote “NYT”.

Most of the content generated by AI did not arise for a good purpose, they mislead voters and discredit the democratic process – emphasized the daily.

“Since the rapid development of artificial intelligence over the past two years, this technology has been used to humiliate or defamate opponents and for the first time, as officials and experts say, has begun to influence the results of the election” – we read in the New York newspaper.

Using free and easy -to -use tools based on artificial intelligence, false photos and recordings of candidates or their supporters are generated, saying things that they have never said, or appearing in places where they were not there (so -called Deepfake). Such materials later spread quickly on the internet.

AI tools “deepened social and party divisions and intensified anti -government moods, especially at the extreme right, which strengthened in the last election in Germany, Poland and Portugal” – we read.

Experts warn that such use of technology undermines faith in the honesty of the election process and destroys the political consensus needed to function in democratic societies.

According to the Independent International Panel on the Information Envyment, with headquarters in Switzerland, AI was used 215 times during elections that took place last year. This year, AI played a role in at least nine election processes. In 25 percent cases were used not for a harmful purpose; Candidates used tools, e.g. to identify new groups of voters.

AI used to the greatest extent by autocratic countries

AI is used to the most insidious way by autocratic countries, such as Russia, China and Iran, which want to interfere in elections in other countries. “Technology allows them to increase support for candidates susceptible to their worldview – or simply discredit the very idea of ​​democratic rule as a worse political system,” wrote “NYT”.

The newspaper pointed out that Moscow tried to fuel anti -Ukrainian moods before the presidential election in Poland. As part of the campaign, false recordings were created, which suggested that Ukrainians are planning attacks to disturb the voting.

“In Poland generated (by AI) entries in social media warned that in connection with the terrorist attack, elections may be canceled last month. The posts that imitated press articles were linked to Russia later” – emphasized the daily.

In the past, large effort and money were needed to conduct foreign interference in electoral processes. The campaigns were based on employees of Farm Troll who generated accounts and content on social media. In the case of AI, this can be done on an unimaginable scale and with great speed.

Saman Nazari from an organization examining digital threats for democracy, Alliance 4 Europe, said that the elections in Germany and Poland showed for the first time how technology is effectively used by foreign entities trying to influence the election process, but also by parties in the country.

The most disturbing case of use of AI was recorded during the presidential election in Romania last year, when the little -known candidate Calin Georgescu went to the help of a Russian operation, in which, among others A campaign was conducted on a thicket. “These were the first important choices in which AI played a decisive role when it comes to the result. It is unlikely that this was the last case” – emphasized the daily.

“The pollution of the information environment will be one of the most difficult things to overcome. And I am not convinced if there is a way back,” admitted Lucas Hansen, the founder of Civai, an organization examining AI's ability and associated threats.

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

NDD/ MMS/