Supporters of former US President Donald Trump have been caught creating and sharing artificial intelligence (AI)-generated images that falsely portray him with African American voters, as revealed by the BBC. This tactic appears to inflate Trump’s popularity among black voters — a demographic widely acknowledged as instrumental to Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential victory. Conservative radio talk show host, Mark Kaye based in Florida, is among the key figures behind these images, which depict Trump in the company of black individuals.
In response to the allegations, Kaye defended his actions on social media, stating that he is a storyteller not a photojournalist. His intentions, however, have largely been met with skepticism. The manipulated images further ignite ethical debates, with critics arguing that it misrepresents political realities and intentionally targets vulnerable voter groups. Cliff Albright, the co-founder of Black Voters Matter, condemned the tactic and pointed out the recurring attempts to disseminate misinformation to black communities.
Deep fakes are emerging as a significant force in global politics with their impact seen in elections in Pakistan, Indonesia, Slovakia, and Bangladesh, among others. The 2020 US election also witnessed the deployment of deep fake campaigns with the intention of manipulating voter behavior.
AI has also proven beneficial in election campaigns, with candidates leveraging its capabilities in innovative ways. For instance, Peter Dixon, a Democratic congressional candidate from California, used an AI bot called “Jennifer” to call voters. Dixon reported his surprise at the public’s positive response toward the AI bot’s effectiveness.
However, while AI serves as a potent tool for increasing voter engagement, it also raises ethical questions, especially in the context of falsifying or manipulating political support. Discussions on how to regulate the fair use of AI in politics are ongoing, but achieving consensus and implementation appears challenging. Among these discussions is the potential ban of deep fake campaign materials, but no such actions have been undertaken so far.
