Senate hearing with deepfake experts tackles elections and sexual abuse
Senate hearing with deepfake experts tackles elections and sexual abuse NBC News
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Regulating Artificial Intelligence to Address Deepfakes
Three experts in deepfake-detection software testified before the Senate’s subcommittee on privacy, technology, and the law on Tuesday. The focus of their testimony was on how Congress can regulate the artificial intelligence (AI) space, particularly in response to the rise of malicious deepfakes.
Understanding Deepfakes and Their Impact
- Deepfakes are misleading audio, video, or images that are created or edited using AI technology.
- Examples of deepfakes include impersonating political figures to spread disinformation and using AI to create fake nude images of individuals.
The Threat of Deepfakes in Elections
During the hearing, which focused on disinformation in the 2024 election cycle, Senator Richard Blumenthal emphasized the need for Congress to regulate AI technology. He proposed a regulatory framework that would require independent testing of AI technology before its release to the public, along with potential penalties.
Senator Blumenthal stated, “The threat of political deepfakes is real, it’s happening now. It’s not science fiction coming at some point in the future, possibly or hypothetically. Artificial intelligence is already being used to interfere with our elections, sowing lies about candidates and suppressing the vote.”
Expert Testimonies
Three experts testified at the hearing:
- Zohaib Ahmed, CEO and co-founder of Resemble AI
- Ben Colman, CEO and co-founder of Reality Defender
- Rijul Gupta, CEO of DeepMedia
Current Legislative Efforts
Senator Amy Klobuchar highlighted that eleven states have passed laws banning deepfake election interference. Additionally, some states have enacted legislation to provide civil litigation opportunities for victims of deepfake sexual abuse. However, proposed federal legislation on both issues has stalled in the House and the Senate without votes.
Senator Josh Hawley urged party leaders to schedule votes on the proposed legislation. He warned against allowing the same companies that control social media and news to further their hold on the country and political process using AI technology.
The Need for Regulation and Safeguards
In the case of the New Hampshire Biden robocall, it was reported that the voice-cloned audio was created by a street magician with ties to a rival Democratic campaign. The audio was generated using software from ElevenLabs, which is accessible to anyone.
NBC News also reported that audio created with ElevenLabs contains a hidden watermark, which is proposed as a solution to deepfakes by numerous big tech companies. However, in the process of creating the robocall, the watermark was stripped from the audio received by primary voters.
“Anybody with a Google search and internet connection can make anything as entertaining and dangerous as they can imagine,” said Ben Colman of Reality Defender. “We’ve seen time and time again they just aren’t going to follow the rules.”
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
The article discusses the rise of malicious deepfakes and their impact on elections, disinformation, and privacy. These issues are closely connected to SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The article also mentions deepfakes that “undress” real photos of women and girls, highlighting the issue of gender-based violence and inequality, which is addressed by SDG 5. Additionally, the article mentions legislation passed by states to create civil litigation opportunities for victims of deepfake sexual abuse, indicating a connection to SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequalities within and among countries.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.
- Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices.
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are Target 16.10 under SDG 16, which focuses on ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms, and Target 5.2 under SDG 5, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. Additionally, Target 10.3 under SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequalities of outcome, can be identified as relevant to the issues discussed in the article.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 16.10.1: Number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists, and human rights advocates in the previous 12 months.
- Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.
- Indicator 10.3.1: Proportion of people who own a mobile phone, by sex.
The article does not explicitly mention any indicators related to the identified targets. However, Indicator 16.10.1 under SDG 16 can be used to measure progress towards ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms. Indicator 5.2.1 under SDG 5 can be used to measure progress in eliminating violence against women and girls. Indicator 10.3.1 under SDG 10 can be used to measure progress in reducing inequalities by examining the proportion of people who own a mobile phone, which is a tool for accessing information and opportunities.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements. | Indicator 16.10.1: Number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists, and human rights advocates in the previous 12 months. |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. | Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices. | Indicator 10.3.1: Proportion of people who own a mobile phone, by sex. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: nbcnews.com
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