Politics in the Era of AI and Misinformation in 2024

The year 2024 proves to be a crucial test for politics in the era of artificial intelligence, with elections taking place in countries representing half the world’s population. Meanwhile, modern technology contributes to the massive spread of misleading information. A report from the French news agency describes 2024 as “decisive” for democracy, with elections happening in 60 countries, including India, South Africa, Britain, Indonesia, the United States, and the European Union.

The first test of resilience against a storm of AI-driven misinformation has already occurred in Taiwan. President Tsai Ing-wen was elected last week despite a widespread disinformation campaign, with experts pointing accusatory fingers at China. Beijing considers the new president a serious separatist due to his repeated emphasis on Taiwan’s independence. TikTok was flooded with conspiracy theories and derogatory phrases leading up to the elections.

This phenomenon highlights the challenge of dealing with misinformation fueled by artificial intelligence. As the deepfake technology rapidly evolves, distinguishing real from fake becomes increasingly difficult. The details that were once indicators of manipulation, such as fingers, are now subject to AI manipulation, making detection mechanisms less effective and increasing the risks of misinformation. The impact of AI-generated content on politics and information trust is becoming a growing concern in the global political landscape.