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Protecting Michigan Voters from AI-Generated Election Misinformation
Protecting Michigan Voters from AI-Generated Election Misinformation
Dear Michigan Voters,
Do you have a plan to vote this fall?
My department is working to answer your questions, protect public safety and carry out the will of the voters. Every election, we collaborate with other agencies at the local, state, and federal level to ensure Michigan's elections remain safe, accurate, and fair.
Technology makes it easier than ever to access information about elections, as well as candidates and their policy positions. Unfortunately, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has also made it easy for misinformation on all of the same topics to spread to voters. That’s why when it comes to election information, you should always double-check your facts with at least one official source – like a trusted news outlet, your local clerk, or the Michigan Bureau of Elections.
As part of our efforts to combat misinformation this election season, my department put together the following guide to help you recognize artificial intelligence and access accurate information about elections online. The Michigan Voter Information Center is also an invaluable resource to help you register, determine your polling location, track your ballot, and more.
Our democracy is stronger when people are well-informed and when there is widespread participation among eligible voters. Remember to cast your ballot on or before November 5 to make your voice heard this fall.
Sincerely,
Dana Nessel
AI’s Role in Spreading Election Misinformation
AI could potentially be used to spread election misinformation.
With convincing deepfakes and AI-generated content on the rise, it can often be difficult to detect fact from fiction.
What is a deepfake?
A deepfake is a video or audio that has been digitally altered – whether it be someone's face or voice – to convincingly make it look like they said or did something that did not happen.
Particularly, with developments in AI technology, deepfakes can be hard to spot and can be used to purposefully spread false information.
Other Deceptive uses of AI
AI can also be used in many ways, including to generate customized emails, phone calls, and text messages that can interact with the people receiving them such that they seem to be conversations with real human beings.
Spot the Difference
If you see any videos, images, or information about elections on social media purporting to come from public officials, first verify that the content was posted by the official accounts of election or government officials or trusted news sources.
For example, you may see a video of Secretary Benson speaking about the election or a screenshot of a press release. It is worth checking who posted materials, and when in doubt confirming that other official sources are sharing similar information.
Would you be able to spot the difference between a real call or video and an AI-manipulated one?
Evaluate Sources on Social Media
When in doubt, seek confirmation from multiple trusted sources. Merely being “verified” does not make an account trustworthy because impersonators can get verified.
Additionally, verified accounts with large followings may share election misinformation – intentionally or unintentionally. It's important to note that state and local election officials are the most trusted sources for accurate voting and election-related information.
Spotting Election Misinformation
Spotting Election Misinformation
Social media can be a dangerous place to get information for the election.
We've found some posts that spread information and have corrected them for you.
Misinformation Example One
Correct Information:
There are 7.2M active registered voters 7.9M citizens of voting age in Michigan.
Misinformation Example Two
Correct Information:
Under Federal Law, the National Voter Registration Act, voters must be inactive for two federal election cycles before being removed.
Removing these names before the election would violate the law.
Important Information You Should Always Verify
If you see or hear anything about these topics, you should verify it by checking with your local clerk, the Michigan Bureau of Elections, or the Michigan Department of State:
- Polling location changes or closures;
- Polling location opening and closing times;
- All voting deadlines, including deadlines for registering to vote, requesting absentee ballots, and returning absentee ballots;
- Ballot instructions;
- Eligibility to vote; and
- Anything else that affects your ability to vote.
Check the Facts
If you are unsure whether a story or claim is true, you can get trusted, verified nonpartisan information from the Michigan Department of State, the Michigan Bureau of Elections, your local clerk and these websites:
- Michigan Department of State - Elections: Provides accurate information about Michigan elections;
- State of Michigan Election Fact Center: the official state source for information on Michigan elections and voting in Michigan;
- Local election officials: Find contact information for your local election clerk;
- Snopes: Investigates and debunks misinformation, conspiracy theories and hoaxes;
- FactCheck: Verifies accuracy of political speech, ads, debates, interviews and press releases; and
- PolitiFact: Verifies accuracy of statements made by politicians.
If you see misleading or inaccurate information regarding voting or elections in Michigan, please report it—and include an image if possible.