Meta is counter disinformation and potential risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections, the parent company of Facebook has said.
The plan will include establishing a dedicated team said Marco Pancini, Meta’s head of EU affairs, who disclosed that the “EU-specific Elections Operations Centre” will assemble experts from various domains within the company to specifically address challenges related to misinformation, influence operations, and the misuse of AI technology.
Efforts to mitigate AI-related risks will encompass the introduction of features enabling users to identify and disclose AI-generated content, along with potential penalties for non-compliance.
The emergence of AI platforms like OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Google’s Gemini has raised concerns regarding the proliferation of false information, images, and videos that could potentially sway voter opinions during elections.
The European Parliament elections, scheduled for June 6 to 9, are part of a series of major electoral events in 2024, described as one of the most significant election years in history. These elections involve voters from over 80 countries, including prominent nations like the United States, India, Mexico, and South Africa, representing nearly half of the global population.
In a collaborative effort, Meta recently joined forces with 19 other technology companies, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and TikTok, to sign a pledge known as the “Tech Accord to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in 2024 Elections.” The accord outlines eight steps aimed at identifying and mitigating election-related risks associated with AI-generated content, while also enhancing transparency regarding measures to address potentially harmful material.
The impact of AI on electoral processes has garnered attention in several instances. For instance, Pakistan’s incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan utilized AI-generated speeches to galvanize supporters ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections earlier this month. Additionally, in January, a fraudulent robocall impersonating United States President Joe Biden circulated, urging voters not to participate in the New Hampshire primary.
Meta’s proactive initiatives underscore a concerted effort to safeguard the integrity of democratic processes and combat the dissemination of misleading information in crucial electoral contexts.
