AI fakes and other media ‘misinformation’ concerns about the 2024 US presidential election
(Unsplash photo)
The UK Guardian posted the following:
AI and misinformation: what’s ahead for social media as the US election looms?
10 February 2024
As the United States’ fractured political system prepares for a tense election, social media companies may not be prepared for an onslaught of viral rumors and lies that could disrupt the voting process – an ongoing feature of elections in the misinformation age.
A handful of major issues face these tech companies at a time when trust in elections, and in the information people find on social media, is low. The potential for politicians and their supporters to weaponize social media to spread misinformation, meanwhile, is high. …
Some companies, including Meta and YouTube, have changed policies to allow election misinformation about 2020. Others are so new that they’re still writing policies for political content as they grow. TikTok, under scrutiny by the US government, has tried to stay away from political content in favor of entertainment. Some smaller platforms, such as Trump’s Truth Social and Telegram, have been specifically designed not to moderate content, allowing rumors to fester and eventually move to more broadly used social media.
And platforms may not have enough staff, after rounds of layoffs hitting trust and safety teams, to manage the amount of misinformation flying around the US, much less worldwide, in a stacked election year for democracies around the globe. Elections in other countries are probably more susceptible to misinformation’s impact because much of the focus of the remaining trust and safety staff and factcheckers will be on US elections and in English. …
The unpredictable role of AI
Artificial intelligence tools could exacerbate the problem, too. Already, a faked audio call purporting to be Joe Biden telling New Hampshire voters to stay home has shown the ability of AI to fuel political misinformation. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a ban on the use of AI-generated voices in robocalls on 8 February to confront the rapidly advancing technology.
Faked images of Trump, made using AI tools, showed the former president being arrested, and AI-generated images of Biden in a military uniform have cropped up, too. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/10/social-media-ai-misinformation-election-2024
Yes, there is more and more false information out there.
And yes, the wrong use of Artificial Intelligence is making things worse.
That said, the Guardian tends to consider aspects of misinformation it spreads as accurate, as do most of the major media.
As far as fakes go, last month someone pretended to be me on Facebook. That fraud contacted others asking them to become Facebook friends. But that was not me (see also No, Bob Thiel does not have a new Facebook page–the deepfake is not me). That type of fake, which did NOT require AI, is called “catfishing.”
Many use a variety of techniques to try to deceive.
The Apostle Paul warned:
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: … 13 … evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:1,13)
Yes, the emergence of various fakes is a sign of the last days.
As many of you are aware, we have warned about the emergence of deepfakes for some time now. Back in 2021, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:
Lies and Deepfakes
Jesus taught that God’s prophets would be reviled and spoken evil of. He also warned that the devil was a liar that worked to take the word of God away from those who heard it. The Apostle Paul warned that “evil men and seducers would wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13, KJV). He also warned that letters purported from him with false messages were an issue. COG leader Serapion of Antioch denounced a gospel falsely attributed to the Apostle Peter as pseudepigrapha. With the internet, lies can spread faster than before. With technology, like artificial intelligence, can we expect to see deepfakes that will make it look like Christian leaders say or do things that they did not? Do you, “prove all things” so you will not fall from the coming increased deceit? Will YOU hold fast to that which is good or be one who “loves and practices a lie’? Dr. Thiel refers to aspects of modern technology and various scriptures to warn Christians to not be misled by what is coming.
Here is a link to the video: Lies and Deepfakes.
Earlier this year, I was presented with what I considered to be a “deepfake” computer-conversation related to another CCOG leader that I was able to determine could not have happened as it was presented to myself and others. Sadly, however, some preferred to believe the lie.
The Bible warns against:
15 … idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. (Revelation 22:15)
Jesus once said to some near Him:
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (John 8:44)
Whoever is pretending to be me has the devil as his/her father.
Last year, we did numerous videos about the rise and use of AI:
AI Jesus? Artificial Intelligence God?
That last item is one that could affect elections as well as other major political events.
As far as the USA election goes, currently two known liars are officially expected, at this instant, to gain their party’s nominations for the presidency of the USA.
And even if we did not have to deal with AI frauds, foreign interference, and various other liars, there will be more “misinformation” during this election cycle.
Pray, as Jesus said in Matthew 6:10, for God’s kingdom to come.
Some items of possibly related interest could could include:
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand. A video of related interest is available titled: Should Christians Vote? Another video is Biden, Trump, and the Bible.
Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or 2025 or? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
Might the U.S.A. Be Gone in 2028? Could the USA be gone by the end of 2028 or earlier? There is a tradition attributed to the Hebrew prophet Elijah that humanity had 6,000 years to live before being replaced by God’s Kingdom. There are scriptures, writings in the Talmud, early Christian teachings that support this. Also, even certain Hindu writings support it. Here is a link to a related video: Is the USA prophesied to be destroyed by 2028? In Spanish: Seran los Estados Unidos Destruidos en el 2028?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. It is available inover 1,000 languages at ccog.org. Here are links to four kingdom-related sermons: The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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