Just did a search for “Trump rally” on Google and Kamala was the top result! pic.twitter.com/WuklbVytq2
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 31, 2024
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of the social media platform X, has come under fire for sharing a manipulated video featuring Vice President Kamala Harris. The video, which has garnered over 128 million views on Musk’s account, depicts a fake Harris voiceover making controversial statements. In the doctored video, the altered Harris voice states, “I was selected because I am the ultimate diversity hire,” and accuses critics of being “both sexist and racist.” Musk commented on the post, saying, “this is amazing,” followed by a laughing emoji.
This just proves that deepfakes in politics are more common than you think.
Using AI to impersonate candidates isn't just unethical, it's a violation of trust. And if we don’t start holding platforms accountable, its going to get a lot worse, quickly.https://t.co/VSL64mFk9z
— ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) July 29, 2024
The Harris campaign has accused Musk of spreading “manipulated lies,” with a spokesperson stating, “The American people want the real freedom, opportunity, and security Vice-President Harris is offering; not the fake, manipulated lies of and Donald Trump.”
This is a prime example of how AI-generated content can mislead and spread disinformation.
Now more than ever, we must secure the integrity of our elections through meaningful action in this space, such as my legislation, the REAL Political Ads Act.https://t.co/06Qm65BunS
— Yvette D. Clarke (@RepYvetteClarke) July 31, 2024
Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar has also accused Musk of violating X’s guidelines, which prohibit users from sharing “synthetic, manipulated, or out-of-context media that may deceive or confuse people and lead to harm.” However, the platform does make allowances for satire, provided it does not cause significant confusion about the authenticity of the media. The “diversity hire” attack line has been criticized by both Republicans and Democrats.
Musk criticized for sharing fake video
A manipulated video that mimics the voice of Vice President Kamala Harris saying things she did not say is raising concerns about the power of artificial intelligence to mislead with Election Day about three months away. https://t.co/DL4vCotRfA
— PEN America (@PENamerica) July 29, 2024
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy called such attacks “stupid,” while Senator Raphael Warnock described them as “beneath the rhetoric the American people deserve at this time.”
Originally posted by the @MrReaganUSA account, linked to conservative YouTuber Chris Kohls, the video was labeled as a parody. However, Musk did not flag it as such when he reposted it. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared on X that the manipulated Harris video should be “illegal” and announced plans to sign a bill banning such media.
Musk responded, asserting that “parody is legal in America.”
Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, criticized Musk’s actions, stating that he was signaling to his 190 million X followers that “this kind of AI-generated bile is welcome.” Ahmed added, “Musk is not a fit or proper person to be in control of X Corp.”
Hany Farid, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, noted that the AI-generated voice in the video is very good and that the video is more powerful when the words are in Harris’s voice. Farid expects an increase in such content given Harris’s status as the presumptive Democratic nominee for the presidential election. X has been contacted for comment on the matter.
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
