Deepfake in politics

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The Impact of Deepfakes in Politics

Introduction to Deepfakes in Political Communication

Deepfakes, synthetic media created using artificial intelligence, have emerged as a significant concern in political communication. These manipulated videos and audio clips can depict individuals saying or doing things they never did, posing a threat to the integrity of political discourse and elections . The rapid advancement of AI technologies has made it easier to create convincing deepfakes, which can be used to manipulate public opinion and spread disinformation.

Effects on Political Attitudes and Microtargeting

Research indicates that deepfakes can significantly alter political attitudes. An online experiment demonstrated that exposure to a deepfake video of a politician led to significantly lower attitudes toward the depicted politician, although attitudes toward the politician's party remained unchanged. However, when deepfakes were microtargeted to specific groups, both the attitudes toward the politician and their party were significantly lower, suggesting that microtargeting can amplify the effects of deepfakes.

Perception and Credibility of Deepfakes

The perception of deepfakes varies among audiences. Studies show that people often struggle to distinguish deepfakes from authentic videos, with the content's distance from reality being a more significant factor for doubt than technological glitches. Interestingly, deepfakes are perceived as credible as other forms of fake media, such as text headlines or audio recordings, with up to 50% of a representative sample finding them believable. Partisanship also plays a role in detection accuracy, particularly for real videos, but not for deepfakes.

Detection and Cognitive Factors

Detecting deepfakes relies heavily on individual differences in analytic thinking and political interest. People with higher levels of analytic thinking and political interest are better at identifying deepfakes and are less likely to perceive fake news as accurate. Additionally, those with higher political interest and lower cognitive ability are more likely to inadvertently share deepfakes, especially within larger social networks.

Ethical Implications and Regulatory Measures

The ethical implications of deepfakes in elections are profound. They can harm voters, candidates, and the overall integrity of the electoral process. To address these issues, several interventions have been proposed, including education and media literacy programs, verification mechanisms, and publicity moderation. These measures aim to mitigate the impact of deepfakes and promote accurate verification skills among the public.

Conclusion

Deepfakes represent a formidable challenge in the realm of political communication. Their ability to manipulate public opinion, coupled with the difficulty in detecting them, underscores the need for robust countermeasures. Enhancing media literacy, improving detection technologies, and implementing regulatory frameworks are crucial steps in safeguarding the integrity of political discourse and elections from the threats posed by deepfakes.