- Sir Keir Starmer and Sadiq Khan have been targeted by ‘deepfake’ technology
Artificial intelligence is a ‘clear and present danger’ to next year’s General Election, former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland has warned.
He told the BBC: ‘Unless policymakers are showing some leadership on the need for a strong and effective domestic set of guardrails – plus international work – then we are going to be behind the curve.’
Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan has said the Government is taking the threat ‘extremely seriously’.
AI-generated misinformation has already disrupted votes abroad, and British politicians such as Sir Keir Starmer and Sadiq Khan have been targeted by ‘deepfake’ technology.
Steps have been taken to protect elections from foreign interference, with a Defending Democracy Taskforce launched.
Artificial intelligence is a ‘clear and present danger’ to next year’s General Election, former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland has warned
British politicians such as Sir Keir Starmer and Sadiq Khan have been targeted by ‘deepfake’ technology
While fake images and doctored audio have been around for years, concerns have been raised over how much quicker and easier it can be to create more convincing versions – ‘deepfakes’ – with AI.
The National Cyber Security Centre has highlighted the danger, saying ‘deepfake campaigns will likely become more advanced’.
In September, a fake audio clip emerged of a candidate in Slovakia’s general election seemingly discussing how to rig the vote. He then lost to a pro-Russian party.
