Democratic countries around the world should band together to confront the threat of AI used by malign states to threaten free elections and spread misinformation, British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said on Tuesday.
In Seoul for the Summit for Democracy, Dowden announced a new global government compact on countering deceptive use of artificial intelligence by foreign states in elections. The Summit for Democracy, initiated by U.S. President Joe Biden, aims to address democratic backsliding and erosion of rights and freedoms.
Details of the compact are still being finalized, but Dowden mentioned that several countries have already signed on. He highlighted the importance of governments coordinating responses to AI-generated deepfakes that aim to deceive voters, similar to the agreement reached by major technology companies at the Munich Security Conference in February.
Dowden emphasized that the compact is focused on countering the threat from AI used by foreign states and is not about internal politics within individual nations. He expressed concerns about the risks posed by AI amidst other challenges to freedom and democracy globally.
The Deputy Prime Minister also raised concerns about reported weapons transfers from North Korea to Russia and called on Moscow to cease interfering on the Korean peninsula. The closer ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have raised suspicions of North Korea supplying Russia with artillery shells and missiles used in the invasion of Ukraine.
As discussions continue at the Summit for Democracy, the focus remains on safeguarding elections from AI manipulation and ensuring the protection of democratic processes worldwide.