Real or Not Real? The Danger of AI-Generated Content in Elections

>>> NEXT TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WHICH WE WANT TO REMIND YOU IS GROWING MORE POWERFUL BY THE DAY.

AND IF IN THE WRONG HANDS CAN BE WEAPONIZED, STOKING THE FLAMES OF MISINFORMATION AS WE GEAR UP FOR THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

A MAN WORRIED ABOUT CAMPAIGN CONTENT MEETS TO TALK ABOUT COMBATTING THE CHALLENGE.

IT'S PART OF THE WNET STREAMING SERIES "TAKE ON FAKE," WHICH ANALYZES FAKE OR ALTERED IMAGES OR AUDIO TO FIGHT THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION.

WE'VE USED GRAPHICS TO IDENTIFY THE FAKES AND HELP PREVENT THEM FROM BEING USED FURTHER.

AT A TIME THERE ARE SO MANY CRITICAL CHOICES, OUR GOAL IS TO HELP YOU SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION.

>> SECRETARY OF STATE FONTES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING RADICAL IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THERE IS GOING TO BE A FLOOD OF MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION AROUND THE ELECTION.

WHY DID YOU DO THIS?

>> FIRST, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SECOND, WE'VE GOT TO BE PREPARED.

PROTECTING DEMOCRACY IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF WHAT WE SHOULD DO AS ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WE'RE SEEING SIMILAR PREPARATIONS IN A VARIETY OF AREAS, NOT JUST PERSONNEL AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY, FOR SOFTWARE AND NETWORKING SYSTEMS, WE'RE DOING IT IN OTHER WAYS IN ARIZONA AS WELL.

PROLIFERATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, PARTICULARLY GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVEN'T SEEN YET.

JUST TO MAKE SURE THE FOLKS WHO RUN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF OUR DEMOCRACY ARE PREPARED, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THEM.

>> YOU HAVE A MILITARY BACKGROUND AND YOU RAN TABLETOP EXERCISES WITH GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

EXPLAIN THAT.

>> THIS IS TYPICAL IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MILITARY SPACES.

YOU SIT AROUND A TABLE AND IMAGINE A GAME OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, BUT THE SCENARIOS ARE REAL.

IMAGINE WALKING THROUGH AN ELECTION DAY WITH NEWS REPORTS COMING AT YOU, DIFFERENT FOLKS TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT END UP HAPPENING.

THAT IS WHAT WE DO IN OUR TABLETOP EXERCISES.

WE INJECT INTO A REGULAR DAY'S CONVERSATION SOME OF THE SCENARIOS THAT FOLKS MIGHT FACE SO THEY'RE PREPARED WHEN IT ENDS UP HAPPENING.

HOW DO YOU TALK TO YOUR COMMUNICATIONS FOLKS, SUPPLY CHAIN FOLKS, LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLKS, AND THIS HAPPENS RAPID FIRE.

RUNNING ELECTIONS, YOU'VE GOT ONE DAY.

CALENDAR DOESN'T STOP, YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

NO ELECTION IS PERFECT BUT WE'RE HOPING TO GET CLOSE.

>> YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THIS TO PREPARE PEOPLE ON YOUR TEAM, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEDIA, SO THAT IF THIS HAPPENS ON ELECTION DAY THEY'RE NOT SURPRISED BY IT AND HAVE MAYBE GONE THROUGH THE MOTIONS BEFORE?

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE USING DEEPFAKES CREATED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OF MYSELF AND OTHER ELECTIONS OFFICIALS.

WE STARTED IN DECEMBER TRAINING ELECTIONS OFFICIALS.

WE CONTINUED WITH MEDIA TABLETOP EXERCISE FOR OUR PARTNERS IN LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA.

AND THIS MONTH IN JUNE WE'RE DOING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SO THEY CAN AT LEAST SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING I LEARNED IN THE MARINE KOCORPS, YOU WANT TO LEARN WITH THE WEAPONS THE ENEMY USES AGAINST YOU SO YOU'RE PREPARED.

>> I WARN THE AUDIENCE, THIS IS A CLIP, NOT OF YOU -- WE'RE SPEAKING TO THE HUMAN BEING YOU.

IT'S PROBABLY THE SAME DESK BUT LET'S PLAY THE CLIP OF THE VIDEO.

FEELS AMAZINGLY REAL.

THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO PREPARE THE AUDIENCE.

>> THIS IS AN IMPERSONATION OF ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES USING GENERATE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THIS IS PART OF THE EXERCISE FOR THE MEDIA TO MAKE SURE FOLKS UNDERSTAND THE CAPABLES OF DEEPFAKE TECHNOLOGY AND THE DANGERS IT POSES TO THE PUBLIC.

>> HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO MAKE?

>> I LOOKED INTO THE CAMERA AT MY DESK AND READ OFF THE SCREEN ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

THEN I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE TECHNOLOGIST FOR FOUR MINUTES WHILE THE GENERATION OF THAT DEEPFAKE HAPPENED.

THEY HAD PROGRAMMED IN THE TEXT THAT THE DEEPFAKE WAS SUPPOSED TO SAY AND BAM, IT HAPPENED.

>> PUT A FINE POINT ON IT.

NONE OF THE WORDS IN THAT VIDEO EVER CAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE RECORDING REMIXED THINGS YOU HAD ALREADY SAID, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAD PHYSICALLY NOT SAID BUT YOU HAD A COMPUTER SAY -- PRETENDING TO BE YOU IN YOUR VOICE, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE TECHNOLOGY LEARNS MY VOICE, MANNERISMS, THE WAY I LOOK.

IT LEARNS THE ENVIRONMENT BEHIND ME AND WHAT I'M WEARING.

AND YOU CAN MAKE IT DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

COULD HAVE CHANGED THE JACKET COLOR TO GREEN, CHANGE THE LANGUAGE AND THE WAY MY MOUTH MOVES WOULD MATCH IT.

WE'VE DONE IT IN OTHER LANGUAGES AS WELL.

THEY'RE CONVINCING.

>> I WANT TO SHOW THE AUDIENCE A CLIP OF YOU SPEAKING GERMAN.

I TOOK HIGH SCHOOL GERMAN, THIS IS BEYOND WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

>> LET'S TRY TALKING IN GERMAN.

[ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ] CONSIDER THE BEST AND WORST WAYS THIS TECHNOLOGY COULD BE USED.

IT ALLOWS AN INDIVIDUAL TO COMMUNICATE WITH AN AUDIENCE IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE USING THEIR VOICE.

BUT A MALICIOUS ACTOR COULD SPREAD DANGEROUS LIES.

>> GAME IN OUT FOR ME.

NEAR ELECTION DAY, A VIDEO SHOWS UP ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF ARIZONA SPEAKING IN WHATEVER LANGUAGE I'M COMFORTABLE SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT, THE POLLS ARE SUDDENLY CLOSED AT 2:00.

WHAT -- HOW DO I PROCESS THIS INFORMATION?

KNOWING THAT IT COULD BE YOU, COULD NOT BE YOU?

>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, THERE ARE TRUSTED SOURCES OF INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE CAN DEPEND ON, MOSTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES, THE SECRETARY OF STATES' OFFICES, LOCAL ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR AT COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL LEVEL, AND THE RULES ARE SET SOLIDLY AHEAD OF TIME.

IT'S A VERY, VERY RARE EMERGENCY, ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS THAT POLLS GET CLOSED.

UNLESS THERE IS AN EMERGENCY OF SOME SORT.

USUALLY THAT'S DEFINED TO A NARROW GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, ONE OR TWO POLLING PLACES IN A FLOOD OR HURRICANE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IF SOMETHING INVOKES EMOTION IN YOU, THAT'S CRAZY, WEIRD, STRANGE, WE'RE ASKING FOLKS TO GO TO TRUSTED SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND FIND OUT IF WHAT YOU JUST SAW IS SOMETHING CREATED TO EVOKE THAT EMOTION IN YOU BECAUSE IT SEEMS UNUSUAL.

THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS WE'RE TRYING TO GET FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND AND BE BETTER CONSUMERS OF INFORMATION, EVEN IF IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S COMING FROM SOME OF THOSE TRUSTED SOURCES.

>> ONE OF THE VIDEO SAMPLES GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION IN ARIZONA.

I WANT TO PLAY THIS YEAR.

KERRY LAKE, A REPUBLICAN RUNNING FOR SENATE.

>> I'M KERRY LAKE, SUBSCRIBE TO THE ARIZONA AGENDA FOR HARD-HITTING REAL NEWS AND A PREVIEW OF THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMING YOUR WAY.

THIS VIDEO IS A DEEPFAKE THEY MADE TO SHOW YOU HOW GOOD THE TECHNOLOGY IS GETTING.

DID YOU REALIZE THIS VIDEO IS FAKE?

IN SIX MONTHS, THE TECHNOLOGY WILL BE BETTER.

BY THE TIME THE ELECTION ROLLS AROUND, YOU'LL HARDLY BE ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REALITY AND VIRTUAL REALITY.

>> THIS WAS NOT REAL, THEY SENT OUT A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER.

I'M LIKE WAIT THAT LOOKED LIKE AN AD, ONLY THING MISSING IS I'M JOE BIDEN AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE OR I'M DONALD TRUMP, AND THAT CAN BE FAKED.

>> INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY STAMPED, THERE ARE MAJOR TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES WORKING WITH MY OFFICE AND I BELIEVE OTHER SECRETARIES OF STATE TO FIGURE OUT A METHOD BY WHICH WE CAN WATERMARK, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, AUTHENTIC MESSAGES FROM OUR OFFICES.

IF YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT -- PARTICULARLY THE INFORMATION, NOT SO MUCH ABOUT CANDIDATES, BUT A LOT OF STATES ARE MAKING LAWS ABOUT THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT TIME, PLACE AND MANNER, REGULATIONS OF HOW ELECTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.

GO TO THE DOT.GOV WEBSITES, THEY'RE USUALLY PRETTY WELL TUFT TRUSTED.

OTHER THING, MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING INFORMED NOW ABOUT CANDIDATES, HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT ISSUES, WHAT THEY THINK OF CERTAIN POSITIONS AND MAKE UP YOUR MIND EARLY.

WHAT WE DO KNOW, EARLY VOTING IS REALLY AVAILABLE IN A LOT OF PLACES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THAT OPTION IS AVAILABLE.

TO AVOID LAST-SECOND EMERGENCY ISSUES, WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT THAT AS AN OPTION.

>> BIT OF CIVICS LESSON FOR PEOPLE, YOUR BUDGET TO CONDUCT THIS FREE AND FAIR ELECTION IN ARIZONA, THAT IS NOT COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S TRUE.

IT'S BEEN A PET PEEVE OF MINE FOR A LONG TIME.

I'VE BEEN UP AND DOWN CAPITOL HILL TRYING TO GET FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND ELECTIONS WERE DECLARED AN AMERICAN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN JANUARY OF 2017.

THERE IS STILL NO SUSTAINED FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

JUST LIKE AIRPORTS OR DAMS OR BRIDGES, THIS KEEPS AMERICA MOVING.

ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION IS CRITICAL TO THE NATION, TO THE REPUBLIC.

WE'VE GOT TO FUND IT FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL, FEDERAL OFFICES AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS UNDER FEDERAL RULES.

STATES HAVE THEIR OWN ISSUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MANY OF THEM ARE UNDERFUNDING THE ELECTIONS OFFICES BECAUSE FOLKS ASSUME IT HAPPENS ONCE EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS.

WE PLAN FOR ELECTIONS TWO YEARS AHEAD OF TIME.

WE'VE GOT TO GET STUFF READY, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

WE HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR FORCEFULLY FOR OUR BUDGETS AND THE SAFETY OF OUR FOLKS AND MAKE SURE THEY MAINTAIN THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND UPKEEP WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> YOU HAVE A THREAT ANALYST THAT WORKS IN YOUR OFFICE, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER HERE WHO OVERSEES OUR SECURITY DEPARTMENT.

IT'S FOUR PEOPLE DEEP, ONE IS A THREAT ANALYST.

THIS IS A PERSON WHO UNFORTUNATELY SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN THE DEEP, DARK CORNERS OF THE INTERNET WATCHING THE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING, PAYING ATTENTION TO POTENTIAL THREATS THAT MAY ARISE.

AND THEN WHEN APPROPRIATE, COMMUNICATING THOSE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR APPROPRIATE INVESTIGATION.

OR ANY OTHER SORT OF ACTION THEY MAY DECIDE TO DO.

WE'RE NOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT KEEPING OUR FOLKS WELL INFORMED AND SAFE IS GOING TO MAINTAIN -- GOING TO STAY A PRIORITY FOR MY ADMINISTRATION.

WE'VE GOT MORE THAN OUR SHARE OF THREATS IN THIS OFFICE TO MYSELF AND MY STAFF, WE'RE GOING TO BE VIGILANT.

>> WHAT IS THE THREAT ATMOSPHERE LIKE?

I REMEMBER THE SCENES AT THE POLLS, ESPECIALLY ELECTION WATCHERS THAT WERE AT TIMES KIND OF ENCROACHING ON THE WORK OF PEOPLE TRYING TO COUNT THE BALLOTS.

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO BE PART OF OR RUN THE ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS?

>> IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE, PARTICULARLY SINCE THERE'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO DECIDED THEY DON'T LIKE DEMOCRACY, DON'T WANT TO TRUST THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS AND DON'T WANT ELECTIONS TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

WANT TO HAVE UNDUE AND VIOLENT INFLUENCE ON CITIZENS DOING THEIR JOB.

WE'VE HAD TO STEP UP IN A SPACE WE'RE NOT GENERALLY SPEAKING EXPERIENCED IN, MY MILITARY BACKGROUND ASIDE.

WE'VE PARTNERED WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR OUR FOLKS.

DOING TRAINING, SOME OF IT MIGHT BE SCARY, BUT WE WANT OUR PEOPLE AND EMPLOYEES TO BE SAFE AND MOSTLY WANT OUR VOTERS TO FEEL SAFE, VOAT HOME, BALLOT BY MAIL WHICH IS ROBUST, OR A VOTING CENTER IN ARIZONA.

WE'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAINTAIN OUR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA, WHICH WE'VE DONE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR A LONG TIME.

>> HAVE YOU OR MEMBERS OF YOUR OFFICE BEEN THREATENED WITH PERSONAL HARM?

>> I HAVE, OTHERS HAVE.

WE REACT APPROPRIATELY.

NOT A LOT OF DETAILS I'M WILLING TO SHARE.

BUT END OF THE DAY, WE TRUST OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS TO ADVISE US WELL.

AND WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, PARTICULARLY IF AND WHEN THREATS COME FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR STATE LINES.

THIS COOPERATION, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR.

BUT IT'S TOO BAD IT HAS TO HAPPEN.

IT'S TOO BAD THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE OPERATING IN THE WORLD OF GRIEVANCE ONLY AND THINK THAT INTIMIDATION AND THREATS IS THE WAY CIVILIZED SOCIETY OUGHT TO RUN.

IT'S NOT.

WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT AGAINST IT, DEFENSE AGAINST IT AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROVIDE GOOD ELECTIONS AND SOLID, BELIEVABLE OUTCOMES FOR OUR VOTERS.

>> AS WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, YOU HAVE A CASE IN YOUR STATE WITH RUDY GIULIANI AND 18 OTHERS INDICTED FOR SPREADING FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT VOTER FRAUD IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

DO YOU SEE A LINK BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENED THEN AND THE ECOSYSTEM WE'RE IN NOW, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BASICALLY ALTERNATE FACTS AND REALITIES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AND MIGHT NOT TRUST THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION IN YOUR VERY STATE?

>> THERE'S ABSOLUTELY A CORRELATION.

THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THE SAME BIG LIE THAT'S POLLUTED THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.

THIS IS NOT D VS. R THING.

THIS IS DEMOCRACY VERSUS NONDEMOCRACY THING.

THIS IS AMERICANS TRUSTING ONE ANOTHER AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER, VERSUS PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE WHAT THE VOTE IS, WHETHER YOU WON OR LOST.

THE PEOPLE WANT TO OVERTURN THE ELECTIONS AS A VALUE.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE CRIMINAL INDICTMENT AND FOLKS ON THE GRAND JURY DECIDED THERE WAS EVIDENCE, SO BE IT.

THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THE SAME BIG LIE AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE PEOPLE IN PUBLIC OFFICE WITH THE TEMERITY TO CONTINUE TO DENY THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS ARE JUST DOING THEIR JOBS WELL, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THEY HAVE ZERO EVIDENCE TO SHOW ANY OF THOSE CLAIMS TO BE TRUE.

FOLKS OUGHT TO STOP LYING AND GET ON WITH THE PROGRAM.

IF YOU WIN, YOU WON, IF YOU LOSE, TRY HARDER NEXT TIME.

THAT'S HOW AMERICAN ELECTIONS ARE TRSUPPOSED TO WORK.

>> WE HAVE A CANDIDATE, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING IF HE DOESN'T WIN, THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST HIM, THE ELECTION IS ALREADY RIGGED.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS IN ARIZONA WITH THIS CONCERN, FONTES IS ALREADY IN THE TANK, I'M NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THE RESULTS IF I DON'T LIKE THE OUTCOME, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT LARGE SEGMENT OF YOUR POPULATION?

>> I REFER THEM BACK TO 2020.

I WAS ON THE BALLOT WITH DONALD TRUMP IN 2020 WHEN I RAN, AND I LOST LIKE HE DID.

AND I BELIEVED THE VOTERS, I BELIEVED IN THE AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO RAN OUR ELECTIONS, BECAUSE I SAW IT FROM THE INSIDE.

I WAS THERE AS WE PERFORMED POST ELECTION AUDITS, SAW THE REALITY AND WAS WILLING TO CONCEDE BECAUSE THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER IN THIS COUNTRY FROM ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL TO THE OTHER IS A HALLMARK OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN.

ALL OF THE COURT CASES HAVE SHOWN ZERO EVIDENCE, ALL OF THE ACCUSATIONS HAVE PROVEN TO BE FALSE.

THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL THING, LEFT VERSUS RIGHT THING.

THIS IS A TRUTH AND REALITY VERSUS THE GRIEVANCE OF SOME PEOPLE THING.

I'M NOT GOING TO BACK DOWN BECAUSE SOMEBODY SCREAMS POLITICS.

THEY'RE WRONG BECAUSE MY TRACK RECORD PROVES THEY'RE WRONG.

>> ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.