Social media giants Facebook and YouTube are under fire for their inaction regarding misleading AI-generated videos that specifically target the LGBTI+ community during the European election campaign. Concerns have been raised over the dissemination of divisive content and the potential manipulation of elections.
Criticism has intensified as the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) aims to hold these platforms accountable for preventing election manipulation and the spread of misleading information. However, despite these growing concerns, both Facebook and YouTube have failed to respond to two alarming incidents involving the far-right group Republika.
In these incidents, prominent political figures, Michal Šimečka, leader of the Progressives, and President Zuzana Čaputová, have been targeted by AI-generated videos circulated on social media. These fake videos feature fabricated voices imitating the politicians expressing support for Republika while denying any vocal similarities. Shockingly, even after 48 hours, neither Facebook nor YouTube has taken any action or addressed the issue.
Michal Šimečka has expressed his concerns regarding these AI-driven hoaxes and highlighted another disturbing incident on WhatsApp where his voice was manipulated to falsely announce a hike in beer prices – a claim he vehemently denied. These deceptive tactics aim to discredit the Progressives and confuse voters.
The Progressive Slovakia party has faced an increase in attacks, particularly as recent polls indicate their rising popularity compared to their rival, Smer. Smer’s campaign, centered around ending military support for Ukraine, has the potential to significantly influence EU foreign policy. Alongside the AI-generated hoaxes, unverified allegations, such as one claiming a candidate’s death from COVID-19 vaccines, have been circulating, further eroding trust in political discourse.
While Facebook and YouTube have maintained a troubling silence on these issues, YouTube claims to adhere confidently to EU policies. The platform insists that it utilizes advanced tools to detect AI-generated deep fakes that violate its regulations against misinformation. However, these videos rank among the most popular on Republika’s far-right party channel, underscoring the urgent need to address the situation promptly.
These AI-generated videos not only impersonate politicians but also target the LGBTI+ community, which has become a contentious issue in the election campaign. Smer and its potential coalition partner, Republika, have faced accusations of spreading transphobic hate speech during the progressive campaign on gender self-identification. This divisive rhetoric highlights the importance of social media platforms taking a firm stance against such harmful content.
The reluctance of social media giants Facebook and YouTube to address the issue of AI-generated misinformation, particularly during a significant election, is raising eyebrows. In an era where misinformation and the deceptive use of AI are increasingly prevalent, tech giants have a responsibility to safeguard the integrity of public discourse. It remains to be seen whether these platforms will take decisive measures to curb the continued dissemination of misleading information and uphold the sanctity of the democratic process.
