Emerging Technology, AI, and Elections

Summary

In this discussion, EAC Commissioner Ben Huband interviews Jenny Badain from Microsoft's Democracy Forward team. They explore the impact of technology on elections, focusing on cyber protections, civic engagement, and information environment. Badain highlights Microsoft's efforts to combat disinformation and the potential misuse of AI, particularly deepfakes, in election contexts. She emphasizes the importance of preparedness, media literacy, and incident response planning for election officials to address AI-generated challenges.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Democracy Forward team at Microsoft focuses on protecting democratic institutions from cyber threats and promoting civic engagement.
• 🌐 2024 is a significant year for global elections, with over 2 billion citizens voting, and Microsoft is actively monitoring and responding to potential threats.
• 🛡️ Microsoft is committed to enhancing cyber protections for election processes, vendors, and political campaigns to safeguard against nation-state interference.
• 🗳️ The team works on civic engagement by encouraging voter registration and participation through various Microsoft products.
• 📢 Microsoft aims to contribute to a healthier information environment, particularly during election periods, by combating disinformation.
• 🔎 The company tracks influence operations by foreign adversaries, such as Russia's narratives around Ukraine, and anticipates their strategies during elections.
• 🤖 There's a growing concern about the misuse of generative AI to spread disinformation, and Microsoft is actively working to prevent and mitigate this.
• 📝 Microsoft, along with other tech companies, signed the AI Elections Tech Accord to combat deepfakes and ensure the authenticity of digital content.
• 🛠️ Election officials are advised to have incident response plans for AI-generated disinformation and to utilize available resources from tech companies for support.
• 🔒 Fundamental cybersecurity measures like multi-factor authentication remain crucial for election officials to protect their systems.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the Democracy Forward team at Microsoft?

The Democracy Forward team at Microsoft focuses on threats to democratic institutions, including cyber protections for the election process, political campaigns, and election ecosystem participants, as well as promoting civic engagement and contributing to a healthier information environment.

How does Microsoft's Democracy Forward program approach global elections?

Microsoft's Democracy Forward program approaches global elections by calibrating its efforts based on its presence, where its technology is used, and where intervention or support is needed. It tracks threats, especially from nation-state adversaries, and provides insights and reports on these threats.

What role does Microsoft see for itself in the information environment during elections?

Microsoft sees its role in the information environment during elections as ensuring that the information people receive, particularly from its products, is trustworthy and authoritative. It works with partners and stakeholders to combat disinformation and promote a healthy information environment.

How does Microsoft plan to address the potential misuse of AI in elections?

Microsoft plans to address the potential misuse of AI in elections by preventing and mitigating the misuse where possible, working with partners in government and the election space, and providing tools and resources to help people discern AI-generated content from authentic content.

What is the AI Elections Tech Accord, and what commitments did Microsoft and other tech companies make?

The AI Elections Tech Accord is a voluntary agreement signed by 19 tech companies to prevent the misuse of AI, particularly deepfakes, in elections. Commitments include ensuring content provenance, working collaboratively as an industry, and promoting AI literacy and societal resilience training.

How does Microsoft's Bing Image Creator contribute to the fight against AI-generated disinformation?

Bing Image Creator, which leverages DALL-E technology, includes a piece of information in the metadata of AI-generated images indicating they were AI-generated. This helps platforms like Meta to tag or label such images, enabling users to identify AI-generated content.

What advice does Microsoft give to election officials regarding AI-generated disinformation?

Microsoft advises election officials to have a plan for responding to AI-generated disinformation, such as deepfakes, including tabletop exercises and incident response plans. It also recommends familiarizing themselves with reporting tools provided by tech companies and maintaining strong cybersecurity practices like two-factor authentication.

What resources does the EAC provide to help election officials combat AI-generated disinformation?

The EAC provides resources such as the AI Toolkit and the Continuity of Operations Toolkit to help election officials plan and prepare for potential AI-generated disinformation. These resources guide officials on best practices and response strategies.

How does Microsoft view the balance between acknowledging AI challenges and avoiding overhyping threats?

Microsoft encourages a balanced approach, acknowledging the challenges AI presents in elections without catastrophizing the potential threats. It emphasizes the importance of preparation and understanding the tools and guidance available to election officials to effectively respond to any situation.

What is the significance of the 2024 election year globally, and how does it impact Microsoft's Democracy Forward program?

The 2024 election year is significant as over 2 billion citizens worldwide will vote, impacting Microsoft's Democracy Forward program by increasing the need for vigilance and support in protecting democratic processes. This includes heightened focus on cyber protections, civic engagement, and information environment health.