USA (Washington Insider Magazine)—A fake Joe Biden robocall urging Democrats to skip the New Hampshire primary has heightened concerns on Capitol Hill about the potential threat of artificial intelligence-generated content in elections. Lawmakers express skepticism about passing legislation to regulate deepfakes before the November elections, with some, like Sen. Deb Fischer, questioning Congress’s ability to prioritize this issue amid ongoing challenges with appropriations.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren attributed delays to Republican opposition, stating that a minority can block legislative action. Meanwhile, Sen. Brian Schatz highlighted the alarming nature of deepfakes, emphasizing their potential to mislead voters, even if they only deceive a few. He underscored the importance of public education about deepfake risks, acknowledging that current laws may not deter malicious actors.
State lawmakers have begun addressing the issue, with 13 bills introduced across the country this year. In response to the fake robocall, which the New Hampshire GOP attorney general deemed illegal voter suppression, bipartisan efforts have emerged. Notably, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and colleagues introduced legislation banning deceptive AI content in political campaigns, aiming to protect elections from misinformation. Klobuchar emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue as part of broader AI legislation.
