Source: BBC News

BBC News reports that there is a growing and urgent call from electoral watchdogs, politicians, and campaign groups in the United Kingdom for the government to introduce new laws specifically designed to tackle the use of deepfakes and AI-generated content in election campaigns. With a general election on the horizon, concerns are mounting that malicious actors could use highly realistic, AI-generated fake videos or audio of political figures to spread misinformation, manipulate public opinion, and undermine the democratic process.

Current electoral laws in the UK were drafted long before the advent of sophisticated generative AI and are widely seen as inadequate to address this new threat. Campaigners, including the Electoral Commission, are urging for legislation that would, at a minimum, require clear labeling of AI-generated political advertising and potentially introduce outright bans on deceptive deepfakes. The report highlights the fear that without a clear legal framework, it will be difficult to hold anyone accountable for creating and disseminating such content. The push for new regulations represents a race against time to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming election from a form of technological manipulation that is rapidly becoming more accessible and convincing.