US lawmakers sound alarm over use of artificial intelligence to disrupt elections

Dozens of members of Congress have signed a letter expressing concerns about the use of artificial intelligence to spread misinformation to voters.

U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell, AL-02, and Shontel Brown, OH-11, led a bipartisan letter from the House to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security and the Election Assistance Commission requesting information on the use of artificial intelligence in misinformation, intimidating and threatening voters during the 2024 election cycle.

Signed by 31 U.S. representatives, the letter states that “despite our country’s improved election security, the growing influence of AI software has raised concerns about the potential harm to our democratic process. We urge you to consider all its possible uses and ramifications in the electoral process, including its weaponization by adversaries of the United States."

Sewell noted the risks of disenfranchisement in her own district.

"Generations of Americans, including many in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, fought to ensure that every eligible voter can cast their ballot in free and fair elections," Sewell said. "We cannot allow bad actors to weaponize powerful AI tools to mislead voters, suppress turnout, and sow chaos. With only eight months until November, the time is now for our federal agencies to protect Americans against such threats, especially Black voters who have been disproportionately targeted by election misinformation and disinformation."

Artificial intelligence has already been used in various campaign ads this election cycle. Last year, Ron DeSantis used it to create a deepfake of former president Donald Trump explaining why he didn't fire Dr. Anthony Fauci during the pandemic.

The letter has been endorsed by multiple civil rights organizations including the NAACP, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and Issue One.

“AI generated misinformation aimed at voter suppression isn’t a theory, it’s already happening – and the federal government needs to have a plan to address it," Brown said. "The technology is new, but often the aims are as old as this country – to impede the rights of Black voters and other minority groups. I am proud to lead this letter with Congresswoman Sewell because we cannot allow any voters to be intimidated, dissuaded, or misled."

Victor Hagan is the Alabama Election Reporting Fellow for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at vhagan@gannett.com or on X @TheVictorHagan. To support his work, subscribe to Advertiser.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: US leaders sound alarm over use of artificial intelligence in election