The Rise of AI-Generated Misinformation in Indian Elections
In November last year, Muralikrishnan Chinnadurai was shocked to see a familiar face on a livestream of a Tamil-language event in the UK. A woman introduced as Duwaraka, daughter of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the Tamil Tiger militant chief, was giving a speech. The problem? Duwaraka had died in an airstrike in 2009 during the Sri Lankan civil war. And now, here she was, seemingly alive and well, exhorting Tamilians to continue the political struggle for freedom.
Mr. Chinnadurai, a fact-checker in Tamil Nadu, quickly realized that the woman on screen was not real – she was a figure generated by artificial intelligence (AI). With elections around the corner in India, the potential for misinformation to spread quickly was a major concern.
As India gears up for elections, AI-generated content is becoming more prevalent. Campaign videos, personalized audio messages, and even automated calls to voters are being created using AI technology. Content creators are having fun using AI tools to show politicians in new and unexpected ways, but experts are worried about the implications of this technology when it comes to spreading fake news.
Former chief election commissioner SY Qureshi warns that in the age of social media, rumors can spread like wildfire and have the potential to “set the country on fire.” As AI tools become more sophisticated, the challenge of distinguishing between real and fake news becomes even greater.
As the election season heats up in India, the threat of AI-generated misinformation looms large. It is more important than ever for voters to be vigilant and discerning when consuming information online.
