Former President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by sharing an AI-generated image of Vice President Kamala Harris on social media ahead of her address at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago.
As reported by Newsweek, the image, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on August 18, depicts Harris speaking at a Chicago stadium under a hammer and sickle flag, with an audience wearing Mao suits. This move by Trump has reignited discussions about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence in political campaigns,
The DNC concludes on Thursday and has featured speeches from prominent Democrats, including President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Hillary Clinton, and the Obamas. Harris's running mate, Tim Walz, is scheduled to speak on Wednesday. As polls indicate a lead for Harris over Trump, Republicans have been seeking effective strategies to challenge the vice president's campaign.
The AI-generated image shared by Trump shows clear signs of artificial creation, with distorted faces in the audience and blurry, unrecognizable flags in the background. The post appears to be an attempt at satire, portraying Harris in a communist-themed setting.
Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, defended the post, stating to Newsweek that it "Seems like an accurate description of Comrade Kamala and her Communist positions."
This incident highlights the growing concern over the use of AI in political campaigns and its potential to spread misinformation. A survey by Elon University in May 2024 found that 73 percent of Americans believe it is "very" or "somewhat" likely that AI will be used to manipulate social media and influence the presidential election outcome.
Experts in campaign ethics, law, and AI have weighed in on the potential consequences Trump might face for sharing false AI images of the vice president during the election. John Zerilli, a professor in AI, Data & Law at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, explained that there are limited grounds for legal action against such use of AI images in the United States.
Luke McDonagh, an associate professor of law at the London School of Economics and Political Science, added:
Right now, one problem for Harris is that by the time she succeeded in a defamation action, the election cycle will have moved on, or indeed, the election may be over. It can take months to resolve such legal cases. So the short answer is that the law does not provide a rapid tool to combat these kinds of fake images.
Jonathan Bright, head of AI for Public Services at the UK's Turing Institute, suggested that the Harris campaign is unlikely to pursue legal action as it would only draw more attention to the image.
The use of AI-generated content in political campaigns raises concerns about voter manipulation and the spread of misinformation. Cary Coglianese, a professor of law and political science at Penn Carey Law, noted that such tactics could potentially backfire by giving more attention to false information.
Coglianese also pointed out that this incident is part of a broader strategy often employed by Trump:
This is a typical strategy deployed by Trump of what can be called preemptive projection: accuse his opponent of cheating or playing unfair, which then softens up his followers (and perhaps swing voters) so they accept his own obvious cheating.
As the 2024 election approaches, the incident underscores the growing challenges posed by AI technology in political discourse. It raises questions about the need for updated regulations and ethical guidelines to address the use of artificial intelligence in campaign strategies and voter communication.
In conclusion, Trump's sharing of an AI-generated image of Kamala Harris at the DNC has sparked a debate on the role of artificial intelligence in political campaigns. The incident highlights concerns about misinformation, legal implications, and the potential impact on voter perceptions. As technology continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how political campaigns and regulatory bodies will adapt to address these emerging challenges in the electoral process.
