CONGRESSMAN MORELLE AUTHORS LEGISLATION TO COMBAT DISINFORMATION AND PROTECT TRANSPARENCY IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS
Bipartisan legislation fights back against the misuse of artificial intelligence in political ads
(Washington, D.C.)—Today, Congressman Morelle announced he has authored legislation to combat the misuse of artificial intelligence in pollical ads and ensure transparency in the election process. The AI Transparency in Elections Act would require disclaimers on political ads with images, audio, or video that are substantially generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
“Americans have a right to transparency in our electoral process,” said Congressman Morelle. “In an age when it’s easier than ever to use AI to create false and misleading images, we must be proactive in our efforts to fight back against misinformation and protect the sanctity of our elections. As Ranking Member of the House Committee on Administration with oversight over federal elections, I am proud to author legislation to establish much-needed regulations that safeguard the integrity of our national elections.”
“Embracing and integrating technological advancements into are election systems is important, but it must be done while upholding the values of transparency, integrity, and fairness,” said Monroe County Board of Elections Democratic Commissioner Jackie Ortiz. “The AI Transparency in Elections Act is an important step in continuing to ensure confidence in our electoral process.”
In January of this year, a robocall using an AI-generated imitation of President Biden’s voice went out to New Hampshire Democrats in an attempt to suppress votes during the Primary election. Congressman Morelle urged the Department of Justice to open an investigation into the matter and expressed his concern over the negative effects AI could have on our electoral process.
The AI Transparency in Elections Act would require political ads created or altered by AI to have a disclaimer, except when AI is used for only minor alterations, such as color editing, cropping, resizing, and other immaterial uses. The bill also requires the Federal Election Commission to address violations of the legislation quickly.
Congressman Morelle will be officially introducing the legislation in the House of Representatives in the coming days. It is sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in the Senate.
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