The use of AI in elections presents several risks that can impact the integrity and security of the electoral process. Here are some of the key concerns:
- Disinformation: AI can generate realistic fake content, such as deepfakes or synthetic media, which can be used to spread false information and influence voter perceptions1.
- Voter Manipulation: AI-powered tools can target voters with personalized content that may be misleading or designed to suppress voter turnout1.
- Election Security: AI poses challenges to election infrastructure by potentially amplifying existing risks, such as cyberattacks or unauthorized access to sensitive data2.
- Bias and Inequality: AI systems used in elections may inherit biases from their training data, leading to unequal treatment of voters or skewed election results3.
- Trust in Democracy: The ability of AI to imitate authoritative sources and create convincing forgeries can undermine public trust in election outcomes and democratic institutions4.
- Phishing and Doxing: AI can facilitate targeted attacks on election officials and voters, compromising personal information and election integrity5.
It’s important for election officials to be aware of these risks and implement safeguards to protect the electoral process from potential AI-related threats.