NEW YORK (AP) — The head of the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday introduced a proposal to require political advertisers to disclose when they use artificial intelligence-generated content in television and radio ads.
If passed by the five-member committee, the proposal would add a layer of transparency that many lawmakers and AI experts have been calling for as rapidly advancing generative AI tools deliver lifelike images, videos and audio clips that threaten to delight voters in the near future. mislead. American elections.
Still, the nation’s largest telecommunications regulator would only control television, radio and some cable providers. The new rules, if adopted, would not cover the massive growth in advertising on digital and streaming platforms.
“As artificial intelligence tools become more accessible, the commission wants to ensure that consumers are fully informed when the technology is used,” said FCC chairman. Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement on Wednesday. “Today I shared with my colleagues a proposal that makes clear that consumers have the right to know when AI tools are being used in the political ads they see, and I hope they take swift action on this issue.”
The proposal marks the second time this year that the commission has begun taking significant steps to combat the growing use of artificial intelligence tools in political communications. The FCC previously confirmed that AI tools for voice cloning in robocalls are prohibited under existing law. That decision followed an incident in the New Hampshire primary in which automated calling used vote-cloning software to impersonate President Joe Biden and deter voters from going to the polls.
If the proposal announced Wednesday is passed, it will ask broadcasters to verify with political advertisers whether their content was generated using AI tools such as text-to-image creators or voice-cloning software. The FCC has authority over political advertising on broadcast channels under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.
Commissioners have yet to discuss some details of the proposal, including whether broadcasters would have to disclose AI-generated content in a broadcast message or only in the TV or radio station’s political files, which are public. They will also be tasked with agreeing on a definition of AI-generated content, a challenge that has become fraught as retouching tools and other AI developments become increasingly embedded in all kinds of creative software.
Rosenworcel hopes to have the regulations ready before the elections.
Jonathan Uriarte, spokesperson and policy advisor for Rosenworcel, said she wants to define AI-generated content as content generated using computer technology or machine-based systems, “including in particular AI-generated voices that sound like human voices, and AI-generated actors who appear to be human actors.” But he said her draft definition will likely change through the rulemaking process.
The proposal comes as political campaigns have already experimented heavily with generative AI, from building chatbots for their websites to creating videos and images using the technology.
For example, last year the RNC released an entirely AI-generated ad intended to show a dystopian future under another Biden administration. Fake but realistic photos were used of boarded up storefronts, armored military patrols in the streets and waves of immigrants spreading panic.
Political campaigns and bad actors have also used highly realistic images, videos and audio content to defraud, mislead and disenfranchise voters. In the Indian elections, recent AI-generated videos misrepresenting Bollywood stars as critical of the prime minister are an example of a trend that AI experts say is emerging in democratic elections around the world.
Rob Weissman, president of the advocacy group Public Citizen, said he was pleased to see the FCC “proactively addressing the threats posed by artificial intelligence and deepfakes, especially as they relate to election integrity.”
He urged the FCC to require on-air disclosure for the benefit of the public and chided another agency, the Federal Election Commission, for the delays as it also considers whether to regulate AI-generated deepfakes in political ads .
Rep. Yvette Clarke, a Democrat from New York, said now is the time for Congress to take action against the spread of online misinformation, over which the FCC has no jurisdiction. She has introduced legislation for disclosure requirements for AI-generated content in online advertising.
As generative AI has become cheaper, more accessible and easier to use, several bipartisan groups of lawmakers have called for legislation to regulate the technology in politics. With just over five months until the November elections, they still haven’t passed a bill.
A bipartisan bill introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, would require political ads to include a disclaimer if they are created or significantly modified using AI. It would require the Federal Election Commission to respond to violations.
Uriarte said Rosenworcel realizes the FCC’s ability to act against AI-related threats is limited, but she wants to do what she can ahead of the 2024 elections.
“This proposal provides the maximum transparency standards that the commission can enforce under its jurisdiction,” Uriarte said. “We hope that government agencies and lawmakers can build on this important first step in establishing a transparency standard for the use of AI in politics. advertisement.”
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