Ottawa: Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault stated that the widespread use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to spread misinformation and create fake visuals during elections poses a major challenge. He highlighted this while speaking at a House of Commons committee. He noted that voters are currently relying on AI chatbots to learn about the election process and the policies of political parties; however, the authenticity of the information provided by these tools remains questionable.
There is a situation today where voters cannot distinguish whether fake images and audio (deepfakes) are authentic or manipulated. Perrault warned that the sources of information provided by chatbots are unclear and that this could impact election outcomes. He reiterated the need to legally mandate “transparency labels” whenever AI technology is used in election advertising and political communications.
Officials pointed out that AI chatbots are unable to provide accurate official responses to queries raised by voters, and in some instances, incorrect details have appeared on websites. The Electoral Commission also informed that measures are being taken to ensure voters receive accurate information ahead of the upcoming by-elections in Canada.
