FCC Deliberates AI Use in Political Ads Amidst Concerns Over Misinformation
Berkeley, CA – Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has articulated a cautious yet hopeful stance on the burgeoning use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in political advertisements. Speaking at the Berkeley Law AI Institute, Rosenworcel underscored the dual-edged nature of AI advancements, particularly their potential to both innovate and disrupt democratic processes.
AI technology has made significant strides, with current tools capable of producing highly realistic images, videos, and voice mimics. This progress, however, has ignited widespread concern about the potential misuse of AI-generated content to spread misinformation, especially in the context of political campaigns. Rosenworcel cited a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center which found that 82% of Americans are apprehensive about AI’s capacity to generate deceptive content during elections.
Expanding on these concerns, Rosenworcel highlighted the broad spectrum of issues AI presents. "We want to know what it means for the future of work. We are concerned about models that inherit the prejudices of the systems they are trained on and determine who gets a loan and who gets a job. We want to know what it means for competition. We want to talk about energy consumption. We want to understand what it means for the future of humanity," she remarked.
The FCC is taking active measures to regulate AI within telecommunications. Rosenworcel pointed to a recent FCC ruling where the commission unanimously decided that ‘artificial or prerecorded’ robocalls using AI voice cloning technology are in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. This precedent, she noted, could serve as a foundation for regulating AI’s use in other areas, including political advertising.
A controversial proposal put forth by the FCC mandates broadcasters to disclose the use of AI in political advertisements. According to Rosenworcel, this proposal, like the ruling on robocalls, is fundamentally rooted in transparency. “The work we have done on robocalls and the proposals we have made on campaign advertisements are grounded in the same idea. They are built on the notion that with AI the place to start is transparency,” she explained.
While Democratic lawmakers have largely praised the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the broadcasting community, including the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), has expressed significant concerns about the potential operational burdens such disclosures could impose on radio and television operators.
Despite the challenges, Rosenworcel’s address was not devoid of optimism. She pointed to the promising potential of AI to revolutionise communications technology. The FCC, in collaboration with the National Science Foundation, is exploring AI-driven projects aimed at enhancing network efficiency.
In a lighter moment, Rosenworcel referenced pop star Taylor Swift’s public apprehensions about AI, stating, “She not only has eras, she has concerns about how her image has been used without her permission in ways that ‘have conjured up fears around AI and the dangers of spreading misinformation.’”
The FCC’s final decision on the AI disclosure rule for political ads is pending, with the public reply submission deadline set for October 11. This deliberation marks a significant step in the ongoing effort to balance the benefits of AI with the imperative to uphold democratic integrity.
Source: Noah Wire Services