On a night of presidential debate that had already captured the nation’s attention, Taylor Swift surprised many by announcing her support for Kamala Harris in the United States presidential election. The singer, one of the most influential figures in American pop culture, used her Instagram platform to confirm her vote for Harris and to warn about the dangers of artificial intelligence in the age of disinformation.
Concerns about Deepfakes
In addition to her political announcement, Swift used her message to discuss a recent incident in which she was the victim of a deepfake: a fake video showing her supporting Donald Trump. Swift explained in her post: "I recently found out that an AI version of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump was posted on his site. This awakened my fears about AI and the dangers of disinformation. It led me to conclude that I must be very transparent about my real plans as a voter."
This statement not only underscores her support for Harris but also highlights the impact AI can have on distorting the truth. Public figures like Swift are particularly vulnerable to deepfakes due to the vast amount of photos and videos of them available online, making sophisticated fakes easier to create.
AI and Elections: A Growing Challenge
The use of deepfakes in the political sphere has raised concerns among experts and lawmakers. According to Linda Bloss-Baum, a professor at American University, Swift’s case exemplifies how AI can be used to influence public opinion in deceptive ways. "When celebrities like Swift are involved, lawmakers pay more attention," she explained. This could lead to increased focus on creating laws to regulate the use of AI in political campaigns.
As the elections approach, the United States lacks sufficient legislation to curb the spread of this harmful technology. Although there are proposals like the NO FAKES Act, it is unlikely that significant legislative changes will occur before the November elections.
