New York Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing for a new law aimed at curbing the use of artificial intelligence-generated images in political campaigns, a move she believes can mislead and deceive voters.
The proposed legislation, set to be outlined during Tuesday's State of the State address, would restrict the production and dissemination of non-consensual deepfakes – manipulated images or videos that alter someone's appearance without their consent. Additionally, it would prohibit knowingly spreading false information intended to suppress voter turnout in upcoming elections.
Governor Hochul has long been a vocal critic of AI-generated propaganda, citing its ability to spread misinformation in critical moments, including those that can determine election outcomes. She believes New York is taking a proactive stance by setting strong standards for AI use in politics, safeguarding voters across the state and serving as a national leader.
Currently, campaigns are required to disclose when they utilize AI during an election cycle, but this does not preclude their actual use of the technology. A notable example of AI-generated propaganda in New York was during last year's mayoral election, where an independent candidate's campaign created a manipulated video that quickly went viral – only to be taken down due to public outcry.
Recurring instances of AI-generatied misinformation have marred politics nationwide, with examples including a recent incident in which fraudsters created a fake audio recording of a former state assemblyman's voice, laced with profanity. Moreover, New Hampshire voters were recently targeted by an AI-generated call advising them to abstain from voting in the 2024 primary election.
Governor Hochul's office emphasizes that the problem persists across the country and that New York is taking decisive action to protect democracy.
The proposed legislation, set to be outlined during Tuesday's State of the State address, would restrict the production and dissemination of non-consensual deepfakes – manipulated images or videos that alter someone's appearance without their consent. Additionally, it would prohibit knowingly spreading false information intended to suppress voter turnout in upcoming elections.
Governor Hochul has long been a vocal critic of AI-generated propaganda, citing its ability to spread misinformation in critical moments, including those that can determine election outcomes. She believes New York is taking a proactive stance by setting strong standards for AI use in politics, safeguarding voters across the state and serving as a national leader.
Currently, campaigns are required to disclose when they utilize AI during an election cycle, but this does not preclude their actual use of the technology. A notable example of AI-generated propaganda in New York was during last year's mayoral election, where an independent candidate's campaign created a manipulated video that quickly went viral – only to be taken down due to public outcry.
Recurring instances of AI-generatied misinformation have marred politics nationwide, with examples including a recent incident in which fraudsters created a fake audio recording of a former state assemblyman's voice, laced with profanity. Moreover, New Hampshire voters were recently targeted by an AI-generated call advising them to abstain from voting in the 2024 primary election.
Governor Hochul's office emphasizes that the problem persists across the country and that New York is taking decisive action to protect democracy.
, this new law is just another example of them trying to control every aspect of our lives. What's next? They're gonna come after memes too 
? 
, but I guess that's just part of the problem - politicians aren't exactly known for their honesty. Like, who's gonna stop them from spreading fake news if it suits their agenda? 
It's like, come on Kathy Hochul, can't you just chill and let us figure some things out for ourselves? 
. I mean, think about it - last year's mayoral election was already rocked by a fake video that went viral, and now we're seeing more incidents like the call to voters in New Hampshire... it's just not right 
. By setting these strong standards for AI use in politics, Governor Hochul is actually protecting democracy at a state level 
. I'd love to see this be a model for other states too 
.
... i mean, we're living in the era of deepfakes already, it's like we're sleepwalking into a sci-fi movie 
. and now politicians are like "oh no, AI-generated propaganda is bad" 
this whole thing just feels like a bunch of people trying to cover their own behinds 
. i mean, if you're gonna use AI to spread misinformation, at least have the decency to be obvious about it 
... but nope, we gotta pretend like we're all somehow more trustworthy than that 
. governor hochul is trying to do something about this, but i'm not convinced she's not just trying to silence people who disagree with her 
... anyway, i guess only time will tell if her bill passes 
... I mean, I get it, politicians wanna keep voters informed but shouldn't we already be using these techs for good? I saw that mayoral election vid in NY last year and thought it was kinda wild that people fell for it. What's the point of having AI regulations if they're just gonna exploit loopholes anyway? 
... Can't we just have a straightforward conversation about info without all this drama? 
.
. I just hope our leaders are holding those in the tech industry accountable for creating these tools that can be used to mislead us. We need some serious regulation here 
!
, it's like something straight outta a sci-fi movie! I'm glad Governor Hochul is stepping in to try and regulate this stuff, but at the same time, I don't think it's that easy to completely eradicate. I mean, how do you even police AI-generated content? It's like trying to catch ghosts 
.
. And what about the tech companies? They're the ones creating this stuff, so why should we expect them to just magically stop?
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and OMG, have you guys tried those new AI-generated sushi pictures? They look so real 
. can't stop people from makin' fake vids or spreadin' false info on the internet. it's just too much for them to handle. plus, what's next? are they gonna ban social media altogether? that's just gonna make 'em use it more... like, good luck with this one, Hochul 
Governor Hochul is taking a huge step in protecting voters' rights and keeping our democracy strong 
. and it's not just limited to deepfakes either, it's all about spreading false info to suppress voter turnout or whatever. we need to stay vigilant and fact-check everything before we share it online 
like they want to make sure everyone has a level playing field or whatever. its cool that NY is taking the lead on this, maybe other states will follow suit 
but i do wish they could focus on more pressing issues, like climate change and stuff. AI is just one of those things thats gonna keep evolving so we need laws to adapt to it 
... it's one thing to have some fun with memes online, but when it comes to our democracy, we gotta be careful what we're spreading. I just hope this new law helps keep the fake stuff from getting out there in the first place 
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. NY's taking a step in the right direction by setting boundaries for campaigns. Let's hope others follow suit 
? It's super unsettling 
. Governor Hochul is on the right track by proposing this new law 
Not me! The whole thing just feels like a massive scam 
! We need more states to follow suit 
.