FPF Responds to the Federal Election Commission Decision on the use of AI in Political Campaign Advertising

The Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) abandoned rulemaking presented an opportunity to better protect the integrity of elections and campaigns, as well as to preserve and increase public trust in the growing use of AI by candidates and in campaigns. When generative AI is used carefully and responsibly, it can reach different segments of the population and address the needs and concerns of specific groups and populations. However, generative AI also carries the potential to erode public trust and damage the integrity of campaigns, elections, and campaign communications. The FEC must consider opportunities to encourage the responsible use of generative AI to mitigate the risks that it may pose to democracy, including its potential to amplify pre-existing discrimination and inequitable practices.

– Amie Stepanovich, VP for U.S. Policy, Future of Privacy Forum

FPF previously submitted comments to the FEC on the use of AI in campaign ads, drawing from an op-ed by FPF’s VP for U.S. Policy, Amie Stepanovich & Policy Counsel for AI, Amber Ezzell, in which they explained how generative AI can be used to manipulate voters and election outcomes, and the benefits to voters and candidates when generative AI tools are deployed ethically and responsibly.

Read the op-ed here.