Georgia lawmaker creates deepfake of colleague to garner support for AI bill

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

REPUBLICAN GEORGIA STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRAD THOMAS HAS PROPOSED LEGISLATION– AIMED AT BANNING THE USE OF DEEP FAKES IN POLITICS.

DEEPFAKES UTILIZE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO MANIPULATE AUDIO AND VIDEO – AND RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR POTENTIAL TO MISLEAD VOTERS.

TO GET LAWMAKERS ON HIS SIDE…

THOMAS PRESENTED A COMPELLING CASE TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE – BY SHOWCASING A DEEPFAKE VIDEO FEATURING THE VOICES OF STATE SENATOR COLTON MOORE AND FORMER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE MALLORY STAPLES 

BOTH OF THE DEEPFAKED POLITICIANS OPPOSE THE LEGISLATION CITING FREE SPEECH AND SATIRE.

THE VIDEO FALSELY ENDORSED A PROPOSED BILL, PROMPTING THOMAS TO EMPHASIZE THE URGENCY OF ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE TO PREVENT ABUSES IN FUTURE ELECTIONS.

THOMAS EMPHASIZED HOW EASILY ACCESSIBLE THESE AI TOOLS ARE – WARNING – THEIR SOPHISTICATION OUTPACES CURRENT LEGISLATION. 

FOLLOWING DELIBERATION, THE BILL RECEIVED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, PASSING OUT OF COMMITTEE WITH AN 8-1 VOTE.

THIS LEGISLATION COMES IN RESPONSE TO THE PROLIFERATION OF AI-GENERATED CONTENT, WITH RECENT INCIDENTS INCLUDING A CALL IMPERSONATING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

VIOLATORS OF THE LAW WOULD FACE PENALTIES OF PRISON TIME AND FINES.

REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE CHALLENGES OF ENFORCING THE LAW BUT EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO ADDRESS ELECTION-RELATED FRAUD.