Imagine your grandmother receiving a text message claiming her voting location has changed. Worried and confused, she heads to the wrong place, only to miss her chance to vote. Unfortunately, the text was a scam designed to interfere with the election. As technology evolves, protecting our family members from scams and misinformation is more important than ever.
What is MIS/DISinformation?
Electoral misinformation is incorrect or misleading information about the election that spreads accidentally. While it is not initially intended to deceive voters, it is still a prominent danger to be aware of. Disinformation, on the other hand, is false information being spread to persuade voters in a damaging way.
Social Media
Remind family members that not everything on social media is accurate.. On most social media sites like Facebook, there are few restrictions on the truthfulness of what is posted. Now, artificial intelligence (AI) technology presents a new danger with the creation of fraudulent photos and videos depicting election candidates. This type of content has become widespread on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; all presenting a danger to innocent voters. Unfortunately, scams don’t stop at social media; they are often sent out via one-on-one texts. Inform your family members not to trust a random and suspicious-looking text – especially regarding election material.
AI & Deepfakes
“Deepfakes” are videos altered by AI to change voters’ minds about a political candidate. Using people's real faces and voices, it can appear someone said something they never actually did. To spot deepfakes, watch out for:
• Jump cuts in an edited video
• Odd looking lighting
• Reactions seem not to match the subject’s tone
• Differences in skin tone and juxtaposition of facial features
• Accessories like glasses have a strange look
AI can also be seen in the form of photo content. If you see an outrageous or inappropriate-looking photo of a presidential candidate, it could be generated by AI. Encourage your loved ones to approach this type of content with critical thinking.
Fight Back on Fake News
Start your conversation with a family member today. It is crucial to discuss where they are getting political information from to ensure they are properly educated voters. Trusted sources like Politifact and FactCheck.org can help them identify factual information. Don’t let tech win the battle this Thanksgiving.