Axel Dauchez, President of Make.org, and Alicia Combaz, CEO of Make.org - along with other co-signatories of this op-ed - call for the implementation of a 'Democratic Shield' through brave and audacious measures to safeguard the upcoming European elections in June.
From election to election, AI is increasingly being used as a tool to create viral disinformation, fake videos, and social media bots. This malicious content can (and already did) influence electoral processes and outcomes. The latest and most alarming example is the Slovakian national election. These developments pose a significant threat to the integrity of democratic processes. At the same time, technology is not only the problem, but can also be a solution. As European elections are approaching next year, how should we react to these dangers?
“Artificial intelligence now allows for the creation of incredibly realistic deepfakes – which could have a very destabilising role in an electoral campaign,” President von der Leyen recently declared. We are, and will be more and more exposed to manipulated and fabricated content, like the deepfake used in Slovakia. Their goal is either the discreditation of candidates or the demobilisation of voters, diminishing the trust in elections. The interest of foreign powers in weakening our democracies will only boost this trend. It is now a reality we cannot ignore.
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“What can we do?” is the question that needs urgent answers and action by many parts of public life and society in Europe. We must urgently take brave, audacious steps to ensure the sanctity of our electoral processes. A “Democratic Shield,” swift and unyielding, must be raised to protect European elections. The time to act is now.
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(Photo - Democracy Technologies)
Axel Dauchez, President and Co-founder of Make.org; Asma Mhalla, Lecturer Columbia, SciencesPo, Polytechnique; Clémence Pène, Vice-President of A Voté; Martial Foucault, Director of CEVIPOF; Adrien Duguet, President of Association Civic Tech Europe (ACTE); Boris Julien-Vauzelle, member of the administrative board of Démocratie Ouverte; Bilyana Kotsakova, Lawyer, Member of the Civil Initiative for Sofia; Alicia Combaz, CEO and Co-founder of Make.org