Staff Reports
A leading deepfake detection company claims that artificial-intelligence-generated propaganda supporting the Palestinian militant group Hamas has been targeting an American audience. According to investigators at Sensity AI, manipulated online content has been uncovered, backing both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with differing intended audiences for each side. The company found that Hamas propaganda was aimed at European and American citizens, while Israeli propaganda focused more on influencing the internal audience, including Israeli people and Palestinians who do not support Hamas.
🇺🇸 Pro-Hamas Deepfakes Try To Manipulate Americans
▫'Massive propaganda conflict' grows out of Israel war, AI detectors say
▫@LovelaceRyanD
▫https://t.co/7mgTq2N0FS 👈#frontpagestoday #USA @WashTimes 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/R2kUOuJXI3— 𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 📰 (@ukpapers) June 13, 2024
Sensity AI’s report states that there is a significant propaganda conflict taking place on social media between supporters of Hamas and Israel. The company’s findings have raised concerns about the potential impact of AI tools on the 2024 U.S. elections. They highlighted a deepfake video that showed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dropping out of the presidential race, containing a watermark from a meme maker who supports former President Donald Trump. This has prompted fears among some lawmakers that their political opponents may use emerging AI tools to challenge them in the upcoming elections.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, is leading the effort to pass restrictions on the use of AI in elections, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding democracy from the spread of fake content. The Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have published guidance urging election officials to be vigilant and train staff on responding to suspected AI-generated media. They also encouraged voters to verify sources of information and directed them to government websites for accurate information.
Overall, the report suggests that foreign malign influence agents are using generative AI tools to spread convincing content and manipulative messages. The agencies advise those responsible for administering elections to consider using authentication “safe words” to avoid being deceived by AI-powered impersonators.
