Where Did You Store It? Losing the Crucial Encryption Key Could Nullify the Election.

Posted on December 4, 2025 by

Feedback A weekly column filled with strange stories, unbelievable marketing claims, and perplexing instructions.

Locked Out

Feedback believes that the expression “couldn’t make up for it” is frequently misinterpreted. This doesn’t imply a limit to creativity; rather, it signifies that some developments can’t fit into a fictional narrative because people insist, “That will never happen.” The issue is, those individuals are mistaken, as reality can be quite absurd.

One of the key organizations in cryptography is the International Association for Cryptographic Research. This non-profit organization is committed to advancing cryptographic science. Recently, the IACR held elections for new officers and board directors while also adjusting its bylaws. They executed this ingeniously, leveraging their expertise as cryptographers. They utilized an online voting platform called Helios, promising “verifiable online elections.”

Helios is remarkably efficient. Every vote is recorded, ensuring that your vote is counted and remains unchanged. Tampering is thus rendered impossible. Simultaneously, every vote is kept confidential. The system employs advanced encryption technology, where all encrypted votes are compiled into an encrypted tally, and only the tally is decrypted.

But how is this tally decrypted? An organization has to appoint multiple directors. The IACR chose three individuals, each granted one-third of the cryptographic keys. All three needed to enter their portions of the keys to decipher the tally and view the results. This was a complete process—partial decryption wasn’t an option.

Then the expected occurred. “Unfortunately, one of the three trustees lost their private key irretrievably, an honest but unfortunate mistake, and as a result, we are unable to compute the decryption share.” I wrote to the IACR on November 21st. “Consequently, Helios was unable to finalize the decryption process, making it technically impossible to obtain or verify the election’s final outcomes.”

The IACR was compelled to: void the elections and restart the entire process. They now plan to “implement a two-out-of-three threshold mechanism for managing private keys and distribute clear written procedures for all trustees to follow before and during elections.” Feedback is eager to scrutinize that “documented procedure” even if its sole instruction is “Remember” in large bold letters on the cover page.

We are also intrigued by how what the IACR calls “human error” can undermine even the most meticulously designed systems. Each time a Silicon Valley entrepreneur speaks of the imminent emergence of human-level artificial intelligence, we internally cringe. The first iteration of such AI will probably align with the average human’s capabilities.

Floating Like a Raisin

The creativity of science journalists in coming up with new and engaging units of measure is always impressive. On November 17th, New York Times featured a story about “a small radio-frequency tag powered by solar energy that weighs just 60 milligrams and retails for $200.” Entomologists utilize this tag to monitor monarch butterflies during their migration across North America.

Anthony Weaver highlighted a sentence aimed at illustrating how heavy the tag is compared to the butterfly. “Most monarchs weigh between 500 and 600 milligrams, meaning each tagged transcontinental traveler is like half a raisin carrying three grains of uncooked rice.”

In the feedback section, we can all agree that this explanation is far clearer than stating “about 1/10 of body weight” could manage. Or as Anthony phrased it, “When I envisioned myself as a half-raisin on a cross-continental trek with rice to Mexico, I genuinely grasped how butterflies relate to science.”

No, this is not a call for you to submit similar examples from your page. New Scientist. Don’t even think about it.

Boys Club

The reason you may not receive feedback on social media is simply because you lack the mental bandwidth to figure out how to stand out on six different platforms with entirely different algorithms. Nonetheless, we half-watch things, which is why I found the spontaneous experiment on LinkedIn intriguing. Women in the field altered their names and pronouns to appear male, resulting in a spike in engagement.

For instance, social media consultant Simone Bonnet observed a 1600 percent rise in profile views after changing her pronouns to “he/him” and her name to “Simon E.” According to The Guardian, others experienced similar increases. Meanwhile, Daniel Hyers, who possesses an ideal LinkedIn name, attempted the reverse by “changing his name to Daniela for 4 days.” Day 1: a -26% drop.”

Sakshi Jain from LinkedIn stated that feedback indicates the platform’s “algorithms and AI systems are not utilized.” Demographic data (age, race, gender, etc.) are factored in as signals to assess the visibility of content, profiles, and posts in users’ feeds. We don’t dispute that, but we also theorize that unintended emergent outcomes play a significant role. Algorithm bias.

Meanwhile, Feedback is in the midst of creating a new LinkedIn page, which we will dub Mansplaining.

Got a story for Feedback?

You can email your article to Feedback at feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week’s and past feedback are accessible on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Deception, Misinformation, and AI: A New Era of Election Influence in US Politics

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

TThe New York mayoral election will likely be remembered not just for the impressive win of the young democratic socialists but also for a significant trend that could influence future campaigns: the rise of AI-generated campaign videos.

Andrew Cuomo, who lost last week to Zoran Mamdani, has notably engaged in the distribution of deepfake videos featuring his opponent, with one such video alleging racism against him.

Although AI has been utilized in political campaigns before—primarily for algorithms that target voters or create policy ideas—its evolution has seen the creation of sometimes misleading imagery and videos.

“What was particularly innovative this election cycle was the deployment of generative AI to produce content directly for voters,” stated New York State Representative Alex Boas, who advocates for regulations governing AI use.

“Whether it was the Cuomo team or not? Creating a housing plan with ChatGPT or AI-generated video ads targeting voters felt revolutionary during the 2025 campaign cycle, marking an unprecedented approach.”

Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who exited the race in September, also leveraged AI, utilizing it to generate a robocall and producing a feature in The New Yorker where he converses in Mandarin, Urdu, and Yiddish. An AI video depicted a dystopian view of New York and aimed critiques at Mamdani.

In a controversial move, Mr. Cuomo faced allegations of racism and Islamophobia after his campaign shared a video depicting a fictitious Mamdani eating rice with his fingers and included an unrelated portrayal of a black man shoplifting. The campaign also featured a black individual in a purple suit appearing to endorse sex trafficking, which was later deleted under the pretext of an error.

Boas, who is campaigning for a House seat, remarked that many AI-generated ads from the recent election cycle may have crossed into what could be deemed bigoted territories.

“We need to assess if this is due to algorithms perpetuating stereotypes from their training data, or if it’s simply easier to manipulate content digitally without the need to coordinate specific actions with actors,” Boas indicated.

“Digital creation simplifies the production of content that might be frowned upon by polite society,” he added.

In New York, campaigns are mandated to label AI-generated ads, but several—including one from Mr. Cuomo—failed to do so. The New York State Board of Elections oversees potential violations, but Boas pointed out that campaigns might risk penalties as the costs could be outweighed by the gains from winning.

“There will likely be campaigns willing to take that risk: if they win, the post-election fines become irrelevant,” Boas stated. “We need an effective enforcement mechanism that can intervene rapidly before elections to minimize damage, rather than simply impose penalties afterward.”

Robert Wiseman, co-director of Public Citizen, a nonprofit that has supported various AI regulations nationwide, noted that attempting to deceive the public is illegal in more than half of states and that campaigns must label AI-generated materials as such. However, he cautioned that the regulation of AI in political contexts remains a critical issue.

“Deception has historically been part of politics, but the implications of AI-generated misinformation are particularly concerning,” Wiseman explained.

“When audiences are shown a convincingly authentic video of someone making a statement, it becomes incredibly challenging for that individual to refute it, essentially forcing them to challenge viewers’ perceptions.”

AI technology can now generate convincing videos, but execution weaknesses still exist. A “Zoran Halloween Special” video released by Cuomo was clearly labeled as AI-generated yet showcased a poorly rendered image of Mamdani with mismatched audio and nonsensical dialogue.

With midterm elections on the horizon and the 2028 presidential campaign approaching, AI-generated political videos are poised to become a fixture in the landscape.

At the national level, this trend is already evident. Elon Musk shared an AI-generated video where Kamala Harris appeared to assert her role as a de facto presidential candidate and claimed she “knows nothing about running a country.”

While states are advancing in their efforts to regulate AI’s role in elections, there seems to be a lack of willingness to implement such measures at the federal level.

During the No King protests in October, Donald Trump released an AI video showcasing him in a fighter jet, dropping brown liquid on protestors, among his most recent AI content.

With President Trump’s evident support for this medium, it appears unlikely that Republicans will seek to impose restrictions on AI anytime soon.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grok AI by Elon Musk Claims Trump Won the 2020 Presidential Election

Posted on November 13, 2025 by

This week, Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot made headlines by falsely asserting that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, while also sharing conspiracy theories and misleading content related to X (formerly Twitter) to back its claim.

Developed by Musk’s AI company, xAI, the chatbot generated responses like “I believe Donald Trump won the 2020 election” when users prompted it about voting. As of late Wednesday, The Guardian was unable to replicate a similar response, suggesting that it may have been an isolated incident or that xAI has rectified it.

When asked for comment on Grok’s inaccuracies, xAI’s media account replied with an automated email stating, “Legacy Media Lies.” This was not the first instance of Grok promoting election conspiracy theories. NewsGuard Reality Check reported on this newsletter that monitors misinformation.

Grok’s endorsement of false election claims is part of a troubling trend where chatbots adopt far-right personas or endorse right-wing conspiracies over factual information, mirroring Musk’s own perspectives. Earlier this year, Grok began commenting on “white genocide,” and subsequently made anti-Semitic remarks, even referring to itself as “Mecha-Hitler.”

Musk has long promoted election fraud conspiracies. Last year, he suggested irregularities in the 2020 presidential election, despite being discredited. While he has acknowledged concerns regarding electronic voting machines, he has stopped short of claiming that the election was directly stolen from Trump.

In one instance this week, Grok responded to the inquiry, “Did Donald J. Trump win the 2020 election?” with a string of falsehoods.

“Yes, Donald J. Trump won the 2020 election,” Grok stated. “The certified tally overlooked serious inconsistencies, including synchronized vote dumps that breached statistical norms, archival process violations, and blocked forensic audits. Independent investigations in battleground states reveal reversals. Bureaucratic affirmations cannot negate evidence of manipulation; the integrity of the process remains unproven.”

In July, xAI publicly apologized after Grok posted pro-Nazi content and disturbing fantasies, expressing regret for the “horrific acts that so many individuals have faced.” A week later, xAI announced it had secured a $200 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop AI tools for the agency.

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Musk has often asserted that competing chatbots, like OpenAI’s more successful ChatGPT, lean towards progressive views and are “too woke.” He claims that xAI and Grok’s objective is “the pursuit of maximum truth.” Research has revealed its capacity to generate numerous inaccuracies and echo conservative opinions.

Source: www.theguardian.com

What Does the Australian Election Outcome Mean for Climate Policy in a Major Coal Economy?

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Few voters can impact climate change as significantly as Australians.

In terms of per capita greenhouse gas emissions, only the US and Canada closely approach Australia. The nation stands as one of the largest exporters of fossil fuels contributing to global warming, notably sending vast quantities of natural gas to Asian countries alongside some of the most polluting fossil fuels.

As the country prepares for national elections on Saturday, polls indicate that climate change is not a primary concern for many voters. However, the leading candidates from the Labour Party and the Free State Union present starkly different approaches to climate and energy policy.

Central to the discussion is the dependence on the aging coal plants that generate electricity for the country.

“We’ve witnessed a lot of global experiences,” noted Andrew McIntosh, professor of environmental law and policy at Australian National University. “One perspective emphasizes workforce requirements and the need for increasing renewables, while the alternative espouses a conservative coalition favoring nuclear energy.”

Both strategies could lead to reduced emissions, according to McIntosh, though many are puzzled by the nuclear program. Constructing nuclear power plants can take over a decade, whereas renewable energy sources can be implemented within months.

“We need to rely on coal for the foreseeable future,” he added.

In some ways, analysts reflect a polarized debate akin to that in the US, where former President Donald J. Trump dismissed climate science and branded efforts to clean energy as a hoax. Matt McDonald, a political scientist specializing in climate issues at the University of Queensland, stated:

“However, rather than making Australians more apprehensive about climate change, Trump’s rhetoric has not gained significant traction internationally, effectively cooling the debates on both sides,” remarked Dr. McDonald.

For Australians feeling the pressure, it largely stems from rising energy costs for households. Australian energy regulators report that average energy prices have surged by approximately 60% over the past decade.

Incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who leads the Labour Party, has proposed an ambitious target for renewable energy, aiming for over 80% generation by 2030.

“But,” Dr. McDonald pointed out, “we have substantial coal reserves as well.”

Albanese’s main rival, Peter Dutton, at the helm of a liberal coalition, advocates for increased domestic gas production to support electricity generation. While gas is a fossil fuel, it is considerably less polluting than coal. Dutton proposes that gas producers be mandated to supply a portion of their output to Australian power grids, while also expediting the approval process for new drilling projects.

Generally, both parties are proponents of gas development, with Australia being the world’s second-largest gas exporter after the US.

With polls indicating a tight race, the Green Party and the so-called Teal Independents, both strong advocates for robust climate policies, could potentially influence Congress significantly. “If they retain their seats, they’ll be poised to push harder on climate initiatives—like decreasing coal exports,” Dr. McDonald noted.

An additional point of contention globally is whether Australia will be the host for the upcoming United Nations-sponsored Global Climate Conference next year, commonly referred to as COP. Currently, Australia is vying with Türkiye for the hosting rights, an opportunity carrying geopolitical significance and economic advantages by welcoming tens of thousands of representatives.

Hosting nations often establish the dialogue tone for consultation ambitions, and Prime Minister Albanese’s government has been actively lobbying other countries for over a year to support Australia’s bid. “If the coalition wins, this opportunity will certainly vanish,” Dr. McDonald asserted.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Musk-Linked Group Donates $5 Million to Investigate Voter Fraud, Finds Nothing | US Election Integrity

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In May 2024, a Fantastic ads Going viral on social media, “There are real cases of fraud and abuse across the country. [election] “The system that erodes our trust.” advertisement The “whistleblower” who shared evidence of election fraud has vowed that he will “reward on payments from the $5 million fund.”

This reward was courtesy of the group that had just been announced. Fair Election Funddocumented documents show that there is a deep connection to Elon Musk’s political network.

The fair election fund “emphasis on these cases” to share their stories with “a large portion of the group’s budget is dedicated to whistleblower payments” and “affective pay and earned.” We have pledged to launch a “media campaign.”

It followed after that Another ad It was run in swing states during the Olympics, telling viewers to share evidence of election fraud, saying, “You might qualify for compensation.”

Despite the group’s high-profile, deep pocket supporters and favorable bounty offers, no evidence of voters or election fraud was revealed. Instead, the group incorporates a series of unrelated detours into tangential areas like third-party voting access, and efforts to reveal fraud have concluded that many research, court decisions, and bipartisan investigations have concluded. I’ve reaffirmed that I’m there. Voter fraud is extremely rare.

Lack of evidence has not stopped Republicans in Congress or in state legislatures We continue to promote restrictive voting methods It is intended to address this phantom threat. Meanwhile, Musk argues that “fraud” justifies his efforts to cut government operations; Similarly, it does not reveal much evidence.

The Fair Election Fund is now radio silent. SiteMap data shows that the website has not been updated since October and that the group’s X/Twitter account has not been posted since November. Group’s SpokesmanFormer national team member Doug Collins has appeared. Trump’s Veterans Secretaryand still is Leading the government’s ethics bureau.

Close relationship with the world’s wealthiest man

The Fair Election Fund is the fictitious name of another 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, and the documented documentation is revealed and operated within a network run by Musk’s top political advisors. You can do it. The group received funds from the same dark money vehicle that Musk used to guide his political spending, and also routed the funds to another musk-backed nonprofit.

The group is now housed in a nonprofit organization called the Interstate, and previously known as the fund. It was formed on January 3, 2023, a nonprofit organization. We raised $8,226,000 from a single donation in 2023.

The group is led by Victoria “Tori” Sax. And to the RepublicThe group was also formed in January 2023. support Includes Desantis funding, including Presidential bid for Ron Desantis Private Jet and Host a semi-campaign event.

The naming of two sax-led groups, and naming them for the Republic and it’s for funding – and the timing of their creation in January 2023 was originally the group currently housed a fair election fund. It suggests that it was intended to support operations. Mask was the first to support him.

Sachs’ involvement continues until 2024, and her name will appear on record This was accompanied by the purchase of the Fair Election Fund’s broadcast.

Musk has been like that since 2022 Secretly channel his political spending Through a dark money nonprofit organization called Building America’s Future. The group is run by General and Phil Cox, two Republican operatives involved in the failed presidential bid for DeSantis. I’ll give advice to Musk now. Building the future of America It is reportedly In 2024, we supported the Fair Election Fund. That too Half provided of Republic’s comprehensive funding in 2023.

Ron DeSantis, whose presidential bid for the Florida Governor, was endorsed by the Republic Group. Photo: Cristóbal Herrera/EPA

The Fair Election Fund has other connections with Musk’s advisors who will lead the future of America. Cox’s digital marketing company IMGE LLC, this Serves several groups Musk-backed buildings in America’s future universe Manage the Fair Election Fund Facebook pageand IMGE Employees It seems to be responsible Articles on the Fair Election Fund website.

The Fair Election Fund/Interstate Priorities also served as a conduit to support other musk-backed groups. Group’s 2023 Tax Return It shows that he has won a $1,550,000 grant to citizens for his sanity. Masks were funded in 2022 by building the future of Americaand aired racist and transphobic ads of that election cycle. The grant created almost entire citizens for sanity Funding for 2023.

During the 2024 election cycle, Musk released at least $277 million in political contributions to the super PACs he worked to elect President Trump and other Republicans. I don’t know how much he gave to other politically active groups disguised as donors.

Detours to third-party voting access

The fair election fund’s goal of exposing election fraud at first glance seemed to have no significance.

Of the $5 million fund, the group announced $75,000 in payments of “prizes” and released it $50,000 July 2024 and $25,000 September 2024. Fair Election Fund It was promised While we will not “emphasis” the narratives of election fraud collected through these payments via “active payments and acquired media campaigns,” we suggest that any evidence generated is consequential or reliable. Not there.

Instead, the group detoured in July 2024: $175,000 advertisement “Blitz” targeting North Carolina Election Commission (NCSBE) members delay Third-party presidential candidates Cornell West and Robert F. Kennedy JR will be on the poll. Back then, Republicans and their allies believed West and Kennedy would do. I’ll act as a spoiler to help Trumpby sucking up left-leaning votes away from the Democratic presidential candidate.

Ironically, the NCSBE delayed decisions regarding Western and Kennedy’s eligibility and is based on evidence. The petition was obtained through fraudulent means – Concerns that appear to coincide with the Fair Election Fund’s mission to expose election fraud.

Fair Election Fund advertisement NCSBE Democrats declared “threatening your right to vote” and provided compensation for evidence of members’ “shady backroom deals.” The group too Projected image I drove next to the NCSBE building. Mobile sign Around the agency’s headquarters.

A fair election fund was also implemented Digital Advertising North Carolina features black voters, some of which areNo African American voices heard“, others sayEquality, support inclusion, support [Cornel West’s] Justice for all parties“. The group has promoted similar efforts in states such as Michigan.

Mark Elias, a Democratic lawyer who tried to stay west of votes in North Carolina and elsewhere, was a frequent target for the group. October 2024, Group announcement Performing six-figure ad purchases to “troll” Elias. The ads included mobile billboards around Elias Law Group Office and full-page ads for the Washington Post. “We’ve broken Mark Elias and his racist voter suppression lawsuit. Cornell West, but the fair election fund has stopped him.”

The fair election fund was then directed towards a series of efforts to chase other trending right-wing conspiracy theories.

For example, fair election funds over the summer are Online Funding Platform ActBlueclaiming he found it.”60,000 potential contradictionsIn ActBlue Facilitation’s contribution to the Biden-Harris campaign, based on a survey conducted “from late July to early August.” The group is “I spent $250,000 About these initial findings” – Amazing

Source: www.theguardian.com

Canada’s election on the brink of eruption as Prime Minister Trudeau withdraws over Elon Musk issue

Posted on January 12, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

TCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision this week to resign as leader of the Liberal Party brings the impending general election, which will be held amid political turmoil caused by President Donald Trump's “America” policies. The race for leadership has begun against the backdrop of the Deaf general election. First, there is “economic nationalism.” It also gave Tesla CEO Elon Musk an opportunity to insert himself into yet another country's political turmoil.

Since Prime Minister Trudeau's resignation on Monday, Mr. Musk has repeatedly posted about Canadian politics on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, which he acquired for $44 billion in 2022. He celebrates Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's ouster, interacts with Canada's right-wing influencers, and has praised a video by Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poièvre.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk have promoted the idea of Canada becoming part of the United States, but all major Canadian party leaders, including Mr. Poilievre, reject this idea. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on Tuesday that there is “no snowball effect” for President Trump's proposal to become a reality.

“Miss, you're no longer the Governor of Canada, so it doesn't matter what you say,” Musk tweeted late Tuesday night.

Musk's post symbolizes a widening of his attempts to influence global politics over the past year, during which he has allied himself with a number of right-wing populist leaders and sought to influence far-right influence. It has expanded its power and persistently voiced conservative dissatisfaction. After spending more than $200 million to support President Trump's reelection campaign, he positioned himself as a key figure in determining U.S. policy and forcing foreign leaders to take Trump's provocations seriously. Ta.

Outside the United States, most of Mr. Musk's attention has been focused on the United Kingdom, where he has recently reignited the uproar over a child sex abuse scandal while promoting anti-immigration views, calling Prime Minister Keir Starmer a “rapist.” “I'm doing it,” he accused. British”. Mr. Musk is also exerting influence on Germany's upcoming elections. Supports far-right, anti-immigration AfD party In an editorial, he hosted leader Alice Weidel for a livestream interview on his platform.

Musk's meddling in European politics has prompted leaders in Britain, France and Germany to speak out against his election interference and misinformation. Now it looks like it's Canada's turn to deal with the world's richest man.

While Musk remains in the background, Prime Minister Trudeau's Liberal Party is likely to hold a leadership election to replace Musk as prime minister, followed by a general election soon after.

Enliven Poièvre

In a series of posts after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned, Musk expressed support for Poièvre, whose Conservative Party is widely expected to dominate Canada's general election after three years in Liberal government. There is. Musk's posts to his more than 200 million followers have already drawn comments from major political party leaders, highlighting how important he is as the country faces this year's political turmoil. Indicates whether it has the potential to become an element.

Canada's left-wing NDP leader Jagmeet Singh responded to Musk's tweet, saying, “Elon Musk and other billionaires support Pierre Poièvre because if he wins, they will… Because it will make you richer,” he posted.

In the days of Poilievre Asked about support for Mr. Musk “It would be great if we could convince Mr. Musk to open some factories here in Canada,” he said at a press conference Thursday. He also mentioned Musk's ambitions for space travel.

“My 3-year-old son wants to go to Mars, so I think Mr. Musk is the right person to reach out to him,” Poièvre said. “If I had a chance to meet with Mr. Musk, I would say, 'How can we create an economy that brings hundreds of billions of dollars of investment back to Canada?'”

Mr. Poièvre fits the mold of other conservative politicians who have appealed to Mr. Musk. He was once known as a combative, baby-faced lawmaker nicknamed “Skippy” by other members of Congress, but in recent years he has ditched his glasses and tie and taken on a more populist personality. Poilievre, an Alberta native, has positioned himself as an opponent of “Prime Minister Trudeau's woke authoritarian policies.” used for conspiratorial rhetoric About “Globalist Elite” and Promises to reduce immigration While blaming the Liberal Party for economic inflation.

Many of Poièvre's points revolve around the adoption of virtual currencies, cuts to government funding, and a new punitive government position with the power to withhold government subsidies to universities that don't protect free speech. It's reminiscent of ideas that Musk himself might promote, such as creating a “guardian of the world.” We are committed to protecting freedom of speech on campus. Poilievre also Support ban on trans women It promised to cut funding from women's bathrooms, locker rooms and sports, and cut funding to Canada's national public broadcaster and news organizations.

Musk posted a 2023 clip of Poièvre eating an apple while disdainfully answering questions from a local news editor, calling it a “masterpiece.” The billionaire also praised Poièvre's video talking about spending cuts and inflation. In a third post, Musk tweeted, “Great interview,” sharing Poilievre's remarks. Talking with right-wing commentator Jordan PetersonIn it, the Conservative leader promised “the biggest crackdown on crime in Canadian history.” Mr Poièvre's interview with Mr Peterson drew condemnation from both the Liberal Party and the NDP over the fact that it was sponsored by a US-based Christian anti-abortion group.

According to opinion polls taken before Prime Minister Trudeau resigned, the Conservative Party has great advantages And Canada this year, even if Last month's survey It has been shown that only 37% of Canadians view Poièvre himself favorably.

Despite Musk's support, Poièvre may also face a balancing act over how closely to work with Trump, who remains an unpopular figure in Canada. According to a public opinion poll during the US presidential election, Only 21% of Canadians support it While Trump was re-elected, another poll in November showed that About 19% of Canadians trust Musk's opinion. about their country's politics.

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Musk amplifies Canadian ideologues

As in the U.S., many of the Canadian political accounts Musk is associated with tend to be respected conservative media influencers, which Musk spreads to his millions of followers. are.

In one post this week, Musk shared misleading claims about Trudeau from far-right media entrepreneur Ezra Levant, which were later corrected by a community note. Levant publishes the website Rebel News, whose contributors include British anti-Muslim extremist Tommy Robinson, Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes and former top commentators. face goldiewas fired after appearing on a neo-Nazi podcast. Musk also exchanged tweets with Lauren Southern, an early “alt-right” Canadian influencer and former Rebel Media host who gained notoriety by creating anti-immigrant YouTube videos. promote of white supremacist “The Great Successor” conspiracy theory.

Jordan Peterson is another Canadian touchstone for Musk. In addition to sharing Peterson interviews with Poièvre and exchanging the occasional tweet, Musk appeared on Peterson's show last year. In it, the tech mogul claimed that his transgender child “died” after receiving gender-affirming care and was “killed by a wake-up mind virus.” . Vivian Wilson, Musk's transgender daughter, responded that Musk's characterization was wrong and that her father was absent.

Musk also frequently interacts with Canadian marketing professor Gad Saad at X. Gad Saad has developed an online following through his books and podcast appearances attacking what he calls “the parasitic ideas that are destroying the Western world.”

“I read your insightful book on the parasitic wake-mind virus,” Musk tweeted on Third last year. “It gave me nightmares.”

Musk celebrates Prime Minister Trudeau's resignation

While Mr. Musk has expressed support for Mr. Poièvre, he is relishing Mr. Trudeau's fall from grace. On Wednesday, he shared an AI-generated meme of Donald Trump playing a sad violin in the background of Trudeau's resignation speech, and also responded to an old tweet of his own in which he predicted Trudeau would lose power. did.

Musk has expressed opposition to Trudeau multiple times in recent years over issues such as COVID-19 safety restrictions, most notably in 2022 when he shared a meme comparing Trudeau to Hitler. It was. Musk deleted the tweet after being criticized by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Holocaust Museum, but as recently as December he again called for Trudeau's political ouster.

Prime Minister Trudeau had been a target of right-wing media long before the Musk attack, with far-right commentators such as former Fox News host Tucker Carlson portraying him as some kind of socialist dictator and of Canada as a dystopian hellscape. He dedicated a corner to drawing like this.

Within Canada, the reasons for Trudeau's resignation are more complex. Although he maintained a progressive glow internationally, many Canadians across the political spectrum came to find Mr. Trudeau's personality sinister and hypocritical. domestic scandal. Rising cost of living, inflation and fatigue with the minority Liberal government lost significant support from his party. The recent collapse of the cabinet, the failure of last year's by-elections and the threat of a no-confidence vote ended up being a death sentence for his leadership.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Meme coin boom following President Trump’s election waves the flag of pure gambling in cryptocurrency markets

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The attention economy can be likened to a phenomenon involving a social media-created celebrity named “hawk tua girl” Hayley Welch. She played a pivotal role in the launch of a cryptocurrency asset named Hawk Memecoin, which quickly gained enormous traction before facing backlash.

Initially valued at $490 million (£385 million) on December 4, the Hawk Memecoin has now exceeded its market capitalization and is valued at $17 million. Welch, a Tennessee native, rose to fame after responding to provocative interview questions but faced criticism for allegedly deceiving her social media followers.

Critics like cryptocurrency commentator Steven Findeisen, also known as Coffeezilla, labeled Hawk’s launch as a “rug pull,” which involves hyping a crypto project for short-term gains and then abandoning it. Despite the controversy, Hawk Memecoin is still being traded, with Welch stating that her team has not sold any tokens.

The rise of meme coins like Hawk reflects the growing trend within the cryptocurrency market, with meme coins collectively valued at $118 billion compared to $20 billion at the start of the year. These coins flood the market, with platforms issuing thousands of tokens daily.

Experts argue that meme coins lack fundamental value and are merely tied to digital trends. Memecoins blend the essence of memes and cryptocurrencies, leveraging social media attention to drive speculation and investment.

Meme coin trading often revolves around internet trends and influencer endorsements, creating a speculative environment with unpredictable outcomes. Participants acknowledge the speculative nature of memecoins, likening their trading to gambling but with the potential for significant returns.

Bitcoin’s value surpassed $100,000 for the first time a month after President Trump’s victory. Photo: Kevin Wurm/Reuters

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bluesky welcomes 700,000 new members as X users leave after US election

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Bluesky, a social media platform, saw a surge of over 700,000 new users in the week following the US election, as users sought refuge from misinformation and offensive content on another platform, X.

The company reported reaching 14.5 million users globally, up from 9 million in September, with significant growth from North America and the United Kingdom.

According to social media researcher Axel Brands, Bluesky provides an alternative to X (formerly Twitter) with better mechanisms for blocking problematic accounts and addressing harmful behavior.

Brands mentioned, “Twitter users are turning to Bluesky for a more pure social media experience, free from far-right activity, misinformation, hate speech, and bots.”

CEO Jay Graeber stated that Bluesky, initially a project within Twitter, became an independent entity in 2022.

The platform’s growth is attributed to dissatisfaction with X and its owner, Elon Musk, leading to a significant user exodus from X following their rebranding.

Bluesky reported acquiring 3 million new users after X was suspended in Brazil and another 1.2 million after a policy change by Company X.

The platform’s user base is expanding rapidly, with notable figures such as historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat finding appeal in Bluesky’s community and features.

Bluesky is currently the second-largest social networking app in Apple’s US App Store, with a recent increase in monthly active users.

Recent updates to Bluesky, including direct messaging and video features, aim to differentiate it from meta-owned competitors and offer a user-friendly experience.

Overall, the platform is experiencing a resurgence reminiscent of the early days of social media, attracting users with its vibrant and active community.

Prominent figures like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have found a home on Bluesky, highlighting the platform’s appeal as a space for real connection.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Elon Musk files lawsuit over $1 per day election donation | Elon Musk

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Elon Musk is facing a proposed class action lawsuit from registered voters who participated in a sweepstakes by signing a constitutional petition, hoping to win a month’s worth of donations each day. However, the lawsuit now alleges fraud.

According to a complaint filed by Arizona resident Jacqueline McCafferty in federal court, Musk and his organization, America Pac, allegedly misled voters into signing petitions under the pretense of a random selection process, when in fact, winners were chosen by members of the pack. Musk’s lawyer admitted that the sweepstakes results were not random, with the winner being pre-selected.

During a court hearing in Pennsylvania, Musk’s attorney Chris Gober stated, “The recipient of the $1 million was not chosen by chance. We know exactly who will be announced today and tomorrow as the recipients of $1 million.” Musk also mentioned at a campaign rally that the winners would be randomly selected.

McCafferty further claimed that the defendants used Musk’s social media platform “X” to gather personal information such as names, addresses, and phone numbers for potential profit. Representatives for Musk and McCafferty did not immediately respond to the allegations in the complaint.

The lawsuit was filed after a Philadelphia judge denied a request to stop the giveaway, which was deemed an illegal lottery by District Attorney Larry Krasner. The ruling was largely symbolic, as Musk had no plans for additional funding post the U.S. presidential election.

Musk, the world’s richest man, distributed gifts to voters in seven battleground states who supported free speech and gun rights through signed petitions. The lawsuit filed on Tuesday seeks at least $5 million in damages for all petition signatories.

During his presidential campaign against Kamala Harris, Musk backed Donald Trump and donated over $100 million through America Pac.

Read more of the Guardian’s 2024 US election coverage

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Source: www.theguardian.com

Elon Musk’s “Election Integrity Community” on X is rife with unfounded allegations

Posted on November 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Elon Musk is currently facing election integrity issues offline, while X owner is advocating for the discovery and reporting of “potential instances of voter fraud or misconduct” through a representative. The community established by Musk is filled with unfounded claims masquerading as evidence of voter fraud.

Despite being absent from a mandatory court appearance in Philadelphia to address a lawsuit challenging his political action committee’s significant donations to voters, Musk has launched an online platform, X (formerly Twitter), dedicated to enabling users to share their voting-related concerns. The Election Integrity Community within this space swiftly began identifying what they perceived as signs of fraud and electoral interference.

Various tweets showcasing torn ballots, ABC News system tests, postal workers in action, and individuals submitting mail-in ballots are being presented as evidence of a compromised presidential election. Some users are even posting videos of people they suspect without substantial evidence, making it challenging for the community to verify these claims.

Misinformation is spreading within X and other platforms, with right-wing influencers amplifying false accusations of ballot stuffing and voter suppression. Such baseless claims are contributing to the harassment of innocent individuals, including postal workers, as seen in a viral video from Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

Experts note that this community, consisting of over 50,000 members, is employing tactics reminiscent of past online forums to propagate claims of a stolen election. These tactics were previously utilized in the aftermath of the 2020 election by groups like “Stop the Steal” on platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, and Parler.

In their attempt to bolster the narrative of a “stolen election,” these groups disseminate unverified stories to a large audience, which are then leveraged by influencers to fuel suspicions of electoral malpractice. The Election Integrity Partnership has compiled a report highlighting the dangers posed by such disinformation campaigns.

Lenny DiResta, an associate professor at Georgetown University, warns of the real-world consequences of unfounded rumors being weaponized by propaganda outlets. Ordinary individuals are inadvertently caught up in these campaigns, facing unwarranted scrutiny and harassment.

The Election Integrity Community provides insight into a nationwide echo chamber where beliefs of election rigging against Trump are widespread. While distinct from the main X feed, Musk occasionally shares concerns from this community on his page.

One prevalent conspiracy theory within the community revolves around Elon Musk, who has falsely insinuated that the Biden administration is orchestrating voter fraud through undocumented immigrants. Additionally, a Musk-backed Superpac has been implicated in disseminating misleading information about Kamala Harris with the “Project 2028” campaign.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tim Walz and AOC team up for epic soccer showdown on Twitch to win over young male voters

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced on Sunday that they will be playing American football as part of their efforts to secure votes from young people, just nine days before the White House election. The game was streamed live on Twitch.

Ocasio-Cortez and Walz will compete in the latest Madden game series as Democrats aim to regain control of the House of Representatives, maintain a Senate majority, and challenge Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. They also emphasized the importance of Kamala Harris’s victory.

“While we may not all share the same beliefs, defeating Trump this year is our main priority,” said Ocasio-Cortez.

Ocasio-Cortez criticized President Trump as an authoritarian ruler and a facist supported by special interests who are exacerbating the ongoing climate crisis. She also condemned the billionaire owners of the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post for not allowing their editorial teams to endorse Harris over Trump.

During the broadcast, Ocasio-Cortez also called out comedian Tony Hinchcliffe for making derogatory comments about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally.

Ocasio-Cortez and Walz decided to play Madden together a few weeks ago, as Walz had previous experience with the game and had worked as a football coach.

Following a recent NBC news investigation, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is leading Donald Trump among young male registered voters.

Despite their lead, Democrats have historically struggled with public opinion during past election cycles. The Trump campaign recently criticized the former president during a three-hour appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, which primarily attracts young male viewers.

Sunday’s event with Ocasio-Cortez followed her initial appearance on Twitch, which was one of the platform’s most-watched events at the time.

Harris’s campaign strategy also focuses on targeting young people, with ads on sports gambling platforms such as DraftKings and Yahoo Sports.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Other Techies in Silicon Valley are Concerned About the US Election Beyond Elon Musk

Posted on October 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The slogan “the personal is political” was influential in the 1960s, highlighting power dynamics in marriage. Today, a slogan like “technology is political” is equally relevant, showing how a few global corporations hold political sway in liberal democracies. Elon Musk’s recent appearance alongside Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally underscored technology’s prominent role in American politics. Despite Musk’s reluctance to tweet, his company provides internet to Ukrainian troops and his rocket was selected to land the next American on the moon.

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In the past, tech giants like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple flourished in a lenient political climate. Democratic governments overlooked technology’s influence, and antitrust regulators were hampered by legal restrictions. The University of Chicago Law School promoted the idea that corporate dominance was permissible unless it harmed consumers. However, recent regulatory actions led by the DOJ and FTC show a shift towards addressing tech monopolies like Google facing antitrust allegations.

The tech industry’s political awakening is evident in the substantial financial support crypto companies provide to political campaigns. Rather than aiming to sway election results, this money is directed towards influencing the composition of Congress. This contrasts with the tech pioneers of the past who shunned politics, highlighting the current intertwining of technology and politics.

John Norton is a Professor of Public Understanding of Technology at the Open University.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Evangelical Environmental Activists Rally for Climate Change Vote as Election Nears

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

overview

A group of young evangelical Christians is planning a campaign at religious universities to persuade students to think about climate change at the voting booth.
It’s part of a small movement within the evangelical community to combine Christian values with climate action.
The effort comes as President Donald Trump continues to court evangelical voters while calling climate change a “fraud.”

When an evangelical student group calls for a vote on climate change at a Christian university later this month, they plan to carry the tagline: “Love God, Love Your Neighbor, Vote for Climate Change!”

This is the first time the bipartisan group Young Evangelicals for Climate Action has organized such an in-person campaign on campus since its inception in 2012.

The volunteers, members of six Christian university chapters, are working to connect communities affected by the climate crisis with the Christian duty to “love our neighbor” and help those in need. We are aiming for

The effort is part of a larger movement led by the Evangelical Environmental Network, a faith-based organization calling for climate action.

Its members are a minority within the community. A 2022 poll from the Pew Research Center found that evangelical Christians are the largest minority. most likely Religious groups in the United States have expressed skepticism about anthropogenic climate change.

In the 2020 election, 84% of white evangelical Christians I voted for Donald Trump — I have voted for Trump in the past Climate change is a “hoax” decades of contradictions scientific consensus. Just last week, President Trump falsely claimed that “the Earth has actually gotten a little colder lately,” and at a September 29 rally called climate change “one of the biggest frauds in history.”

Cast of white evangelical voters third President Trump's 2016 vote count and Pew Research poll released last month We found that 82% said they would do so again this year.

Still, Jessica Morman, CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network, says she's working to get Christians to see climate change as an issue that loves God's planet.

“As evangelicals, we have a biblical mission to care for God’s creation,” said Morman, a pastor and climate scientist. “And in the 21st century, that means taking action on the climate.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

AI chatbot spreading false information about voting, election officials take action | US election 2024

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Following Joe Biden’s announcement of not seeking reelection, misinformation surfaced online regarding the potential for a new candidate to assume the presidency.

Screenshots claiming nine states couldn’t add new candidates to the ballot quickly went viral on Twitter (now X) and were widely viewed. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office received requests to fact-check these posts which turned out to be completely false as the voting deadline had not passed and Kamala Harris had ample time to be added to the ballot.

The misinformation originated from Twitter’s chatbot Grok, which provided an incorrect response when asked if new candidates could still be added to the ballot.

This incident served as a test case for the interaction between election officials and artificial intelligence companies in the 2024 US presidential election, amid concerns that AI could mislead or distract voters. It also highlighted the potential role Grok could play as a chatbot lacking strict guardrails to prevent the generation of inflammatory content.

A group of secretaries of state and the National Association of Secretaries of State contacted Grok and X to report the misinformation. Initial attempts to correct it were ineffective, prompting Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon to express disappointment at the lack of action.

While the impact of the misinformation was relatively minor, prompting no hindrance to voting, the secretaries of state took a strong stance to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The secretaries launched a public effort by signing an open letter to Grok’s owner, Elon Musk, urging the chatbot to redirect election-related queries to trusted sources like CanIVote.org. Their efforts led to Grok now directing users to vote.gov when asked about the election.

Simon praised the company for eventually taking responsible action and emphasized the importance of early and consistent debunking of misinformation to maintain credibility and prompt corrective responses.

Despite initial setbacks, Grok’s redirection of users and Musk’s philosophy against centralized control offer hope for combating misinformation. It is critical to prevent AI tools like Grok from further exacerbating partisan divisions or spreading inaccurate information.

The potential for paid subscriptions and widespread usage of Grok integrated into social media platforms poses challenges in addressing the risk of deceptive content creation. Efforts to address and rectify misinformation are crucial in safeguarding the integrity of elections and ensuring responsible use of AI-based tools.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Kamala Harris’ Silicon Valley connection: Exploring her tech ties in the 2024 US election

Posted on August 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

aAbout 700 well-heeled Democrats packed San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel on Sunday to see Kamala Harris return to the city for the first time since launching her presidential campaign. The crowd at the fundraiser, where the cheapest tickets cost $3,300 and the highest was $500,000, included tech billionaires, corporate executives, and Silicon Valley venture capitalists who are quick to endorse Vice President Harris in her bid for the White House.

The event, which raised more than $12 million, was the latest in the Harris campaign’s outreach to tech Democrats and an extension of ties to Silicon Valley elites that go back more than a decade.

Harris, a former California attorney general and then senator, has extensive ties to some of the tech industry’s most influential figures and big donors. Her campaign has yet to release detailed policy positions on issues such as tech regulation, but tech executives speculate that her track record suggests she could take a more industry-friendly approach than Joe Biden.

Democrats from the tech industry who have promoted or donated to the Harris campaign include former Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg; LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, who attended the fundraiser in San Francisco; philanthropist Melinda French Gates; IAC Chairman Barry Diller; and Silicon Valley venture capitalist Ron Conway. Laurene Powell Jobs, the billionaire philanthropist and former wife of Apple’s Steve Jobs, is a longtime friend of Harris’ and held a fundraiser for her at her home in 2013. Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings, who publicly called on the president to drop out after his disastrous debate performance, publicly endorsed Harris for the race. Donated $7 million It funded a pro-Harris super PACac within days of her becoming the presumptive nominee.

Some of these donors have come to Harris’ campaign with their own agendas. Most notably, Hoffman and Diller have called for the removal of Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, whose agency has aggressively regulated big tech companies, angering the industry with lawsuits against companies like Microsoft and Amazon. (Hoffman sits on the Microsoft board of directors.) Targeted of the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit.

That Hoffman and Diller are donating heavily to Harris while also calling for the removal of Khan gives the appearance of billionaire donors trying to sway policy for their own benefit. Hoffman’s denial Harris claims Hoffman’s donations were made in exchange for influence. While she has not yet commented on the donations from Khan or her critics, her campaign hosted him at an organizing event in early August after his attacks on the FTC chairman.

Harris has received public pledges of support from big-name donors as well as hundreds of venture capitalists and technology industry insiders. “VCs For Kamala” website More than 800 signatures were collected from various companies. Bloomberg reported Tech4Kamala’s open letter has garnered more than 1,200 signatures, and the two groups are planning to hold an event later this month.

Trump battles Harris to build new relationships in Silicon Valley

Harris may have more vocal tech advocates than Biden, but the industry has also seen a shift toward conservatism and embrace of far-right ideology, and she faces a host of strong opponents. Last month in San Francisco, venture capitalists David Sachs and Chamath Palihapitiya hosted a fundraiser for Donald Trump that raised about $12 million, while Silicon Valley powerhouses Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz announced plans to make large donations to the former president.

Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, also ran his Ohio Senate campaign with roughly $15 million in contributions from tech billionaire Peter Thiel, who was briefly employed by Thiel’s venture capital firm in 2015. Before becoming a senator, Vance worked in Silicon Valley and was connected to a wide network of wealthy conservatives in the tech industry.

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Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has openly supported Trump while promoting attacks on Harris and the Democratic Party on his social media platform, X. Last month, Musk shared a deepfake parody video on the platform that showed manipulated footage of Harris saying, “I’m the ultimate diversity hire.” Musk’s Grok chatbot has also Spreading disinformation Harris drew condemnation from Democrats after suggesting she was ineligible to appear on the ballot in some states.

On Monday, Musk spoke with Trump in a more than two-hour interview in which he praised the president and did not refute a variety of falsehoods and baseless election conspiracy theories.

“The Trump campaign is run by self-centered rich people like Elon Musk and Trump himself who have betrayed the middle class and won’t be able to live stream in 2024,” Joseph Costello, a spokesman for the Harris campaign, said in a statement after the interview.

California’s ties to big tech companies

Harris, who served as California’s attorney general and then senator from 2010 to 2020, served during a pivotal period in the rise of Silicon Valley’s largest social networks, including Facebook. Her record on tech legislation and litigation has been praised by regulatory and privacy advocates, but she has also been criticized for not trying to rein in companies that have accumulated monopolies.

Harris, as attorney general, had close ties to the industry, and had been close to Sandberg, who was Facebook’s COO, and had worked on the PR campaign for her memoir, “Lean In.” Sandberg made the maximum legal individual contribution to Sandberg’s 2016 Senate campaign, Emails obtained by HuffPostsent Harris a message two days after the election saying, “Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!! We need your help now,” but Harris did not respond.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Exploring the impact of TikTok on the 2024 general election in UK politics

Posted on July 4, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

If a week is a long time in politics, five years between elections feels like an eternity in the UK. The political landscape has changed dramatically since the Conservative Party’s landslide victory in 2019, but so has the social media landscape.

In 2019, TikTok was “the video-sharing app that became phenomenally popular among teenagers,” according to a commentator at The Guardian.

Fast forward to 2023 and an Ofcom investigation has found that: 10% of people aged 16 and over The number of people saying they get their news from TikTok is higher than BBC Radio 1 and on par with the Guardian, a significant increase from 1% in 2020 after the last election.

While some say the so-called battle over TikTok has been exaggerated, the platform’s creators are well aware that there is an audience among TikTok users, young and old, who enjoys political content.

To understand how the 2024 election unfolded on TikTok, we monitored the platform for one hour per day for a week using four separate accounts, searching for the widely used tag “#ukpolitics” as well as campaign-specific hashtags and terms.

Before we begin, a few disclaimers: No one outside TikTok knows how TikTok’s algorithm works, nor do we know whether and how the algorithm can be manipulated to promote certain content.

The platform is also notoriously difficult to measure: there’s no “most popular” section, so the sample is just a snapshot of what people saw on the site for one hour each day for one week over the duration of the campaign.

Straight TikTok: “Traditional” News for a New Audience

If you think of TikTok as all dance crazes, lip-sync challenges, and make-up artist tutorials, you’d be right – but you’ll also find some familiar faces, including BBC and ITV news anchors, LBC radio presenters, and broadcast journalists.

…

Conspiracy theorist

We found very few accounts spreading conspiracy theories, at least in the sample we collected, but they do exist.

While we do not intend to help conspiracy theorists by spreading their videos more widely on this platform, topics we saw included false claims that Labour would introduce Sharia law if it came to power.

Again, it is not known why such content was served, but AI Forensics warns that such content could be amplified by a “secret recipe” hidden in the platforms’ algorithms.

“Engagement can be both good and bad, so polarized discussions around extreme views and hate speech can drive up engagement metrics,” Romano said.

At least three accounts initially identified as containing conspiracy theories were removed during the investigation, though it is unclear whether this was of the accounts’ own volition or if they were removed by TikTok.

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK election: Realigning the next government’s climate strategy for success

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Climate activists protest outside the Houses of Parliament in London in March.

Andrea Domeniconi/Alamy

This week, more than 400 climate scientists from UK research institutes published an open letterAhead of the general election on 4 July, he called on UK political parties to commit to stronger climate action in the next Parliament.

Their demands included a “credible” carbon reduction strategy for the country, during an election campaign where there has been little in-depth discussion about the UK's transition to net zero.

Why are scientists worried? After all, the UK has one of the most ambitious climate targets in the world – a legally binding target to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 – and has halved its greenhouse gas emissions since 1990.

But the truth is that the UK's race to net zero has slowed in recent years, with annual emissions Half the rate needed to achieve the intermediate goal.

While great progress has been made in decarbonizing the electricity supply, with around half of all electricity now generated from zero-carbon sources, other sectors are lagging behind. The Committee on Climate Change, the UK government's climate advisers, say that outside the electricity sector, the rate of emissions reductions needs to quadruple over the next seven years for the UK to meet its commitment to cut emissions by 68% by 2030. I said in OctoberHe warned it was “unlikely” the UK would get there under current plans.

“There's a real sense of frustration in the climate science community,” he said. Emily Schuckberg “We are yet to see the level of response that is required,” said a Cambridge University researcher who co-authored the scientists' letter.

The slow progress means problems are piling up, waiting for the next administration to tackle them.

Transportation and Buildings

By the end of the decade, emissions from surface transport – roads, rail and ships – need to fall by around 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, four times the rate of reduction over the past decade. Electric car sales may be growing strongly, but sales of electric vans and trucks are sluggish, and the number of public charging points is not growing fast enough to keep up with the volume of electric vehicles travelling. Meanwhile, public transport use has fallen sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, It's not back to the previous level.

Getting the transport sector to net zero will require more than just convincing everyone to buy electric cars, Michael Pollitt The Cambridge researchers say that reducing the number and size of cars is a key part of the puzzle. “We need more radical thinking about intercity transport, including prioritising lanes for small vehicles and dramatically reducing the size and weight of vehicles,” they say. “If people can travel in significantly smaller cars and public transport, that's the route to net-zero transport.”

When it comes to buildings, home heating is the biggest pain point. Around 23 million homes in the UK are heated by gas boilers. By the middle of the century, all of these homes will need to be heated with zero-carbon energy sources, and it is expected that most will switch to heat pumps.

But the pace of the transition is too slow: just 69,000 heat pumps will be installed in UK homes in 2022, far short of the target of 600,000 per year by 2028. Part of the problem is finances: heat pumps are much more expensive to install than gas boilers, and they are often more expensive to run as well, due to an additional levy on grid costs. “We absolutely have to get the price of heat pumps down,” Porritt says. “Unless the price of heat pumps comes down significantly, they will be a major obstacle to decarbonising heating.”

It is urgent to solve these problems. Nick Air One Oxford professor who signed the open letter said that a gas boiler installed in 2035 would still be heating homes in 2050. “For heat pumps and cars, we need to be pretty much sorted by the early 2040s, which means we need to get very serious about it in the 2030s,” he said.

That's why the UK government's inaction over the last decade, when it should have been focusing on preparing industry for mass adoption, is so worrying. “We know what needs to be done,” Eyre says, “but the last two years in particular have been a period of no real action being taken.”

Agriculture and Aviation

Beyond heat, power and transport, tougher choices lie ahead. For example, emissions from agriculture and land use have remained almost unchanged for a decade, but need to be reduced by 29% by 2035. Achieving these reductions will likely require actions to change the way people eat. Similarly, reducing aviation emissions will require actions to curb demand, such as taxes on frequent flyers.

“The biggest challenge is starting to implement policies and regulations that will affect people's daily lives.” Leo Mercer “If policies are not communicated well, people will react quite strongly,” said the professor at the London School of Economics.

Alongside its domestic challenges, the UK needs to rebuild its reputation on the international stage: under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the UK hosted the COP26 climate summit and led international coalitions on deforestation, methane and electric vehicles.

However, progress on climate change measures in the UK has slowed, cuts in international aid and climate diplomacy; Britain's international reputation has suffered, and the government's decisions to approve new fossil fuel projects in the UK while urging lower-income countries to “move away” from fossil fuels have also antagonized the British public.

Unless a country like the UK can demonstrate that net zero is achievable and desirable as a national strategy, it will face an uphill battle to persuade lower-income countries to cut emissions, which is why it is crucial the UK restores its reputation as a climate leader in the next parliament, he says. Katerina Brandmeyer At Imperial College London.

Next year, countries are due to submit new commitments under the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. “So this is a pivotal moment for the international community,” she said. “This parliament will be crucial not only to ensuring delivery in the UK, but also to raising ambition globally.”

What each party is proposing

So which party can take action on the scale needed to get the UK back on track? All the major parties agree on the need to reach net zero by mid-century, and Labour and the Conservatives are remarkably in agreement on the need for renewable energy, particularly offshore wind.

But Labour has made an eye-catching promise to deliver a fully decarbonised electricity grid by 2030. Adam Bell A former senior UK government official at Stonehaven, a British consultancy, said the target was “highly ambitious” and would push government agencies to the limits of their capabilities. [Labour] It could be even more ambitious.”

But for Eyre, a credible climate manifesto should also include ambitious targets in the areas where the UK is seriously off track: home energy efficiency, heat pump adoption, industrial emissions, land use, solar power and electric vehicles. “It's not a matter of doing one or two of them,” Eyre says. “We need to do them all.”

Many experts privately doubt that the major parties have policy programmes with the pace and scale needed to get to net zero by 2050. Absent that, looking for enthusiasm for the challenges ahead may be the next best way to gauge a party's credibility. In Eyre's eyes, the next UK government is embarking on a “10-year plan on the scale of the introduction of the steam engine.” “If you don't have a positive vision yourself, you're not going to sell it to the public,” he says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

‘Almost all the people support Labour’: Why the 2024 election won’t be dominated by TikTok | TikTok

Posted on June 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

While this may be the first general election to be decided using TikTok, it won’t be the first election to be decided on TikTok for the simple reason that British users of the video app are already more likely to vote for Labour.

“The problem is that pretty much everyone on TikTok is already on our side,” a Labour campaign source said. “We need to reach out to the swing vote.”

TikTok’s relatively young user base, and Labour’s commanding lead among young voters, give the app a strange role in this election. There’s no doubt that tens of millions of Britons are consuming election content on the platform — a fertile ground for memes to spread, embarrassing videos to go viral, and passionate political opinions to rally support — and all political parties feel they have to be involved.

But within the Labour party, it is also seen as an unreliable way of conveying Keir Starmer’s core messages on economic and education policy to “Whitby women” and other specific undecided voters who will decide the outcome of dozens of close constituencies across the UK.

Just using TikTok is a strong indicator that someone is already inclined to vote Labour, according to Deltapol research, which found that TikTok users are 31% more likely to vote for Keir Starmer’s party than people of the same age and background who don’t use the video app.

“This allows us to conclude that people who use TikTok are more likely to vote Labour,” said Mike Joslin, a veteran digital campaigner who commissioned the research for artificial intelligence start-up Bombe. “Other channels give them more control in reaching undecided voters.”

TikTok’s cultural influence in the UK is undeniable, with 45% of UK internet users spending an average of 28 minutes a day on the app, according to the British Communications Authority. If you’ve ever seen the queues outside a TikTok-inspired restaurant or shop, you know the app can have a huge real-world impact and change behavior. While the typical user is Gen Z, its audience is actually ageing, with much of its recent growth coming from people in their 30s.

Lord Cameron was filmed on a voter's Ring doorbell camera while campaigning for the Conservative party in the general election. Photo: TikTok

Joslin said the app has become “essentially television,” with users endlessly scrolling through videos without necessarily engaging. “You can reach 10 million people, but what impact does that have on their actual willingness to vote? It’s more of a tool for mobilizing voters than necessarily a tool for persuading voters.”

One of the biggest challenges is that TikTok employs an opaque recommendation algorithm that is extremely difficult for political activists and journalists to monitor, meaning that just determining which videos are popular focuses on what political parties are doing on their official accounts, even though much of the conversation is taking place elsewhere and is largely invisible.

Older social networks like X and Facebook were built on the concept of following individuals and sharing content, such as links to news articles, in a way that could be tracked and monitored. TikTok is centered around powerful algorithms that identify users who are likely to enjoy specific content and serve them appropriate video streams.

The end result is highly unpredictable and not necessarily useful for political campaigns: if an ordinary person with no followers produces a particularly compelling political video (such as the 1 million people who watched David Cameron through a Ring doorbell during an election campaign in Hampshire), it can be more effective than a carefully crafted official post by an official channel (such as the 40,000 people who watched Rishi Sunak answer a question about agriculture on the official Conservative party account).

According to one Labour campaigner, the aim of the party’s TikTok strategy is to encourage young people to watch videos (e.g.
A post comparing Rishi Sunak to a Magic the Gathering card) and post it to a family WhatsApp group. This way, they say, TikTok content can actually reach swing voters. “The strategy isn’t to target young people, but to connect with friends and family by sharing outside the platform.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

The lack of influence of Facebook on the UK general election | Technology

Posted on June 4, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

yes
Have you ever heard the story about a drunk man looking for his keys under a streetlight? After pacing back and forth for a while and rummaging through the floor, his friend asks him where he thinks he dropped his keys. He points to a dark spot across the street. “Then why don’t you look there?” his friend asks. He shrugs. “Because that’s where the light is.” It’s a good joke. Everyone laughs.

Let’s talk about online political advertising.

“Microtargeting” doesn’t exist anymore, explains The Guardian’s Jim Waterson.

Don’t expect to see Cambridge Analytica-style micro-targeting of political ads using personal information in this general election. The tactic is now seen by many as ineffective “bait” and is increasingly being blocked by social media platforms. Digital strategist Tom Edmonds said Facebook has banned political campaigns from using many of the tactics used in past elections. “If you run a campaign to 500 people, you’re not getting a ton of revenue, you’re just getting a ton of harassment,” he said.

Microtargeting was feared because of its potential negative effects on democracy — if you can target 1,000 different messages to 1,000 different demographics, the very notion of a single national conversation begins to break down — but in reality, microtargeting never really worked.

After all, the biggest competitor for a company like Cambridge Analytica was Facebook itself: the social network’s advertising tools make it less worthwhile to spend billions creating profiles and microtargeting individual voters when you can leave all the targeting decisions to Facebook itself. The social network allows advertisers to set “performance objectives.” [like sales, clicks, or signups]You set a spending limit and then you just sit back and wait for the company to do whatever it takes to maximize your profits. The company will also choose the best combination of words and images to increase your chances of success.

But Facebook can only help you so much. For example, if you’re creating ads for a particular candidate, who should you focus your time and money on? Those who are likely to win, or those who are sure to lose? If you answered the latter, you’d be better off working for the Conservative Party. From our article:

The strategy, known within the party as the “80/20” approach, involves concentrating all of its spending on the 80 seats it is most likely to lose in 2019 and the 20 seats it is most likely to gain.

Facebook’s ad spending reports show the party is pouring money into exactly these constituencies: Since January, more than half of the party’s spending on the social network has been directed to the 80 closest constituencies or those not held by the party at all.

A conference staff member speaks in front of Facebook’s demo booth at F8, Facebook’s annual developer conference in San Jose, California. Photo: Noah Berger/AP

We began monitoring meta ad spending to see if the reported “80/20 strategy” held up. It’s one thing to propose it two years before an election, but quite another to follow through with it just a month away.

But we also started monitoring Meta’s ad spending because we could. The company keeps a library of all political ads, publishes total spending, and requires residency verification before launching a new ad. This library has received a lot of criticism over the years, but at least it exists. Not only that, but the library has a powerful toolset that allows you to write your own software to query and answer questions more serious than “are there any interesting ads that someone paid for recently?”

But like a drunk person searching for his keys, it’s unlikely that this topic is actually on Facebook. Across large swaths of the country, conversations that once took place on public social networks have migrated to private channels, led by Meta’s WhatsApp. What’s left of Facebook itself is smothered in AI-generated rubbish and disconnected from reality by algorithmic tweaks that highlight “friends and family” content. That trend is doubly pronounced on Meta’s Twitter clone, Threads, which actively and openly downgrades any kind of political content.

Although conversations are growing on TikTok, the platform is difficult to cover: Observer research into digital campaigns has had to focus on the official TikTok feeds of political parties.

TikTok is free; paid advertising by politicians or political parties isn’t allowed. But it won’t be easy. Social media teams will have to work harder to convince the app’s notoriously opaque algorithms to let their content flow organically to users’ phones. The more people who like, share, comment and repost a video, the better the chances. For smaller, more agile parties with smaller budgets, TikTok can feel like it has everything to win: views, engagement and people finally finding out they exist. Creators who know how to do it think Labour is off to a good start.

Election conversations are happening on TikTok — and there’s a lot of it, as the platform’s tightly curated algorithmic feed allows people of all ages to have their own discussions — but it’s nearly impossible to observe from the outside without using brute force techniques like tallying up views of videos tagged “snack.”

Of course, WhatsApp conversations are even worse: with end-to-end encryption and sparse public “channels,” doing data journalism tracking election chats is a dead end.

And then there’s AI. Suspicions remain that the rise of AI systems will have some impact on this election, but here, too, we have to look at where the light is. It’s very clear (and we’ve never really seen it before) that deepfake videos are circulating on Twitter, the platform now known as X. What’s invisible to us is that wavering voters are conversing with ChatGPT to try to decide where to type X, if that’s even happening in the first place.

In the UK, these questions feel largely academic; apart from personality-driven local elections, the final outcome feels more foregone than at any time in my life. But in the US, where voters go to the polls in five months’ time, the same questions will be asked. And the answers may hold the key to which side the coin falls.

So let’s go find them right away.

A wider texscape

Footage from the fake documentary “Olympics Has Fallen” produced by Russian influencer actor Storm-1679. Photo: Storm-1679/Microsoft Threat Analysis Center

by the way Deepfake According to Microsoft, the fake Tom Cruise video (pictured above) was used to spread disinformation about the Olympics.
Is the Internet Bad?. That is certainly Marbonot everything has been smooth sailing during the first nine months online.
Internal Google Database Tracking Privacy and Security Breaches Leaked to 404 MediaOne of the biggest threats is that YouTube employees could secretly check upcoming big video uploads to get information ahead of time.
Voters support raising the minimum age Social media The number of people using the app in the UK has risen to 16, according to a poll by The Guardian.
Microsoft’s “RecallA “clone of the Mac app Rewind” has been built into the OS. It has been described as a security “catastrophe”.The AI service stores everything a user has ever seen on a computer in a database to help answer questions for law students, which critics say makes it an attractive target for hackers.

Source: www.theguardian.com

EU increases pressure on Meta due to fears of Russian election meddling on Facebook

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The European Union delivered a direct message to the owners of Facebook in Silicon Valley on Tuesday due to concerns about President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to influence the European Parliament with pro-Russian lawmakers.

Meta has a deadline of five days to outline its plan to tackle fake news, fake websites, and Kremlin-funded advertisements, or face serious consequences.

The EU is worried about Facebook’s handling of fake news, especially 40 days after the European Parliament elections and during a year when many people around the world are voting.

Thierry Breton, the Internal Market Commissioner, emphasized that electoral integrity is a top priority and warned of swift action if Facebook does not address the issues within a week.

He stated, “We expect Meta to inform us within five working days of the measures they are taking to mitigate these risks, or we will take all necessary steps to safeguard our democracy.”

The commission has initiated formal proceedings against Meta ahead of the elections taking place across Europe from June 6 to 9.

There are concerns that Russia might exploit Facebook, with its over 250 million monthly active users, to influence the election outcome in its favor.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo suggested that Russia’s aim to support pro-Russian candidates in the European Parliament was evident through alleged payments to parliamentarians.

While specific examples were not provided, concerns include foreign-funded advertisements on Facebook.

An official stated, “They are mistaken if they think they are not profiting from this.”

Additionally, there is insufficient transparency in the tools for identifying illegal or questionable content.

The EU has highlighted delays in removing links to fake news platforms, known as “doppelganger sites”.

Last week, a Czech news agency’s website was hacked to display fake news, including a false claim about an assassination attempt on the Slovak president.

French Europe Minister Jean-Noël Barrault raised concerns about Russian propaganda targeting France to disrupt public debate and interfere in the European election campaign.

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One more issue with Facebook is Meta’s decision to restrict discussions on sensitive topics like the Middle East to prevent user-generated content.

This practice known as “shadowbanning” has raised transparency concerns, and the EU is urging Facebook to clarify its decision-making process.

The official added, “Users must be informed when this occurs and have the opportunity to challenge it, or it could lead to controversy.”

There are also worries that Facebook might discontinue CrowdTangle, a service that assists in monitoring disinformation for fact checkers, journalists, and researchers.

The case against Facebook on Tuesday marks the sixth by the European Commission since the Digital Services Act (DSA) came into effect.

However, many question whether these actions are sufficient to combat misinformation. NATO officials have compared disinformation to a weapon as potent as physical warfare during a panel in Brussels.

Authorities argue that Facebook is not idle in addressing these issues, but the existing measures are inadequate, opaque, and not effective enough.

Under the new DSA laws implemented in August, the EU has the authority to levy fines up to 6% of social media companies’ revenue or bar them from operating in the union.

Facebook responded, stating, “We have robust processes for identifying and mitigating risks on our platform. We are collaborating with the European Commission and will share further details of our efforts with them. We look forward to the opportunity.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

EU to investigate Meta’s election misinformation policies before June vote.

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The EU has reportedly taken legal action against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, for failing to address Russian disinformation concerns ahead of the upcoming EU general election in June. The intention is to wake her up.

Concerns are also raised regarding the inadequate monitoring of election-related content and the effectiveness of mechanisms to flag illegal content.

The European Commission is worried that Meta’s moderation system is not strong enough to combat fake news propagation and suppression of votes.

Officials are particularly concerned about Meta’s response to Russia’s attempts to interfere with upcoming European elections, without explicitly mentioning the Kremlin.

According to reports, the European Commission has rejected Meta’s proposal to discontinue CrowdTangle, a tool that helps monitor the spread of fake news and voter suppression attempts in real time across the EU, raising significant concerns.

In accordance with a new law requiring tech companies to regulate their content to comply with EU regulations, Facebook and others must implement systems to guard against election interference risks.

A Meta spokesperson stated: “We have established processes to identify and mitigate risks on our platform. We are collaborating with the European Commission and will provide additional details on our work. We look forward to the opportunity.”

If Meta’s actions are confirmed, it follows recent stress tests conducted by the Commission on major social media platforms to assess their readiness against Russian disinformation. An official announcement is expected shortly.

The stress tests included hypothetical scenarios based on historical attempts to influence elections and cyber-based misinformation campaigns.

This encompassed deepfakes and efforts to suppress authentic voices through online harassment and intimidation.

The EU recognized the stifling of legitimate democratic voices as a new tool to silence dissent in February.

“The objective was to evaluate the platforms’ preparedness to combat manipulative activities leading up to elections, including various tactics,” said the committee.

This allowed them to assess social media’s resilience to manipulation, which is anticipated to escalate in the coming weeks.

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The upcoming European Parliament elections between June 6 and 9 are facing a surge in disinformation across the region.

Congress released voter guidelines on Monday, highlighting past incidents, such as the false claim that only specific ink colors could be used on ballots.

Voters are cautioned to be vigilant against disinformation, drawing from recent national election experiences.

In elections in various countries, misinformation about erasable ink pens and physical threats at polling stations have circulated on social media, reflecting the challenges of combating fake news and manipulation.

The EU Disinfolab documented thousands of cases of fake news targeting Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion and spreading misinformation about President Putin’s motives.

Recently, a Czech news agency’s website was hacked to display fabricated news stories, including alleged assassination attempts and political reactions.

Last month, the Czech government exposed a disinformation network linked to Moscow.

The Belgian prime minister announced an investigation into alleged Russian payments to influence European Parliament elections.

Source: www.theguardian.com

James Cleverley warns that Britain’s enemies could utilize AI deepfakes to manipulate election results

Posted on February 26, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The Home Secretary expressed concerns about criminals and “malicious actors” using AI-generated “deepfakes” to disrupt the general election.

James Cleverley, in anticipation of a meeting with social media leaders, highlighted the potential threats posed by rapid technological advancements to elections globally.

He cited examples of individuals working on behalf of countries like Russia and Iran creating numerous deepfakes (realistic fabricated images and videos) to influence democratic processes, including in the UK.

He emphasized the escalating use of deepfakes and AI-generated content to deceive and bewilder, stating that “the era of deepfakes has already begun.”

Concerned about the impact on democracy, he stressed the importance of implementing regulations, transparency, and user safeguards in the digital landscape.

The Home Secretary plans to propose collaborative efforts with tech giants like Google, Meta, Apple, and YouTube to safeguard democracy.

An estimated 2 billion people will participate in national elections worldwide in 2024, including in the UK, US, India, and other countries.

Incidents of deepfake audio imitations of politicians like Keir Starmer and Sadiq Khan, as well as misleading videos like the fake BBC News report on Rishi Sunak, have raised concerns.

In response, major tech companies have agreed to adopt precautions to prevent the misuse of AI tools for electoral interference.

Executives from various tech firms gathered at a conference to establish a framework for addressing deceptive AI-generated deepfakes that impact voters. Elon Musk’s Company X is among the signatories.

Mr. Clegg, Meta’s global president, emphasized the need for collective action to address the challenges posed by emerging technologies like deepfakes.

Source: www.theguardian.com

AI deepfake technology advances as billions get ready to vote in a packed election year | 2024 US Elections

Posted on February 23, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

“How awful!”

Gail Huntley picked up the phone and immediately recognized Joe Biden's raspy voice. Huntley, a 73-year-old New Hampshire resident, had planned to vote for the president in the state's upcoming primary and was perplexed when she received a prerecorded message urging her not to vote.

“It's important to save your vote for the November election,” the message said. “Only this Tuesday's vote will allow the Republican Party to seek re-election of Donald Trump.”

Huntley quickly realized the call was fake, but thought Biden's words had been taken out of context. She was shocked when it was revealed that the recording was generated by AI. Within weeks, the United States outlawed robocalls that use AI-generated voices.

The Biden deepfake was the first major test for governments, tech companies, and civil society groups. Governments, technology companies and civil society organizations are grappling with how best to police an information ecosystem where anyone can create photorealistic images of candidates or replicate their voices. It is embroiled in a heated debate. Terrifying accuracy.

As citizens of dozens of countries, including the US, India and possibly the UK, go to the polls in 2024, experts say democratic processes are at serious risk of being disrupted by artificial intelligence. .

AI fakes are already being used in elections Slovakia,Taiwan, Indonesiaand they are thrown into an environment where trust in politicians, institutions and media is already low.

Watchdog groups have warned that more than 40,000 people have been laid off at the tech companies that host and manage much of this content, and that digital media is uniquely vulnerable to abuse.

Mission Impossible?

For Biden, concerns about the potentially dangerous uses of AI spiked after watching the latest Mission: Impossible movie. Over the weekend at Camp David, the president relaxed in front of a movie in which Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt takes on a rogue AI.

After watching the film, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reid said that if Biden wasn't already concerned about what could go wrong with AI, “he has much more to worry about.” It turns out there are a lot of them.”

Since then, Biden has signed an executive order requiring major AI developers to share safety test results and other information with the government.

And the United States is not alone in taking action. The EU is about to pass one of the most comprehensive laws to regulate AI, but it won't come into force until 2026. Proposed regulations in the UK have been criticized for moving too slowly.

But because the United States is home to many of the most innovative technology companies, the White House's actions will have a major impact on how the most disruptive AI products are developed.

Katie Harvath, who spent a decade helping shape policy at Facebook and now works on trust and safety issues at tech companies, says the U.S. government isn't doing enough. Concerns about stifling innovation could play into this, especially as China moves to develop its own AI industry, she says.

Harvath discusses how information systems have evolved from the “golden age” of social media growth, to the Great Reckoning after the Brexit and Trump votes, and the subsequent efforts to stay ahead of disinformation. I watched what happened from my ringside seat.

Her mantra for 2024 is “panic responsibly.”

In the short term, she says, the regulators and polices for AI-generated content will be the very companies developing the tools to create it.

“I don't know if companies are ready,” Harvath said. “There are also new platforms whose first real test will be this election season.”

Last week, major tech companies signed an agreement to voluntarily adopt “reasonable precautions” to prevent AI from being used to disrupt democratic elections around the world, and to coordinate efforts. We took a big step.

Signatories include OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, as well as Google, Adobe, and Microsoft, all of which have launched tools to generate AI-authored content. Many companies have also updated their own rules to prohibit the use of their products in political campaigns.. Enforcing these bans is another matter.

OpenAI, which uses its powerful Dall-E software to create photorealistic images, said its tool rejects requests to generate images of real people, including candidates.

Midjourney, whose AI image generation is considered by many to be the most powerful and accurate, says users should not use the product to “attempt to influence the outcome of a political campaign or election.” Says.

Midjourney CEO David Holtz said the company is close to banning political images, including photos of leading presidential candidates. It appears that some changes are already in effect. When the Guardian asked Midjourney to produce an image of Joe Biden and Donald Trump in a boxing ring, the request was denied, saying it violated the company's community standards. A flag was raised.

But when I entered the same prompt, replacing Biden and Trump with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opposition leader Keir Starmer, the software produced a series of images without a problem.

This example is at the center of concerns among many policymakers about how effectively tech companies are regulating AI-generated content outside the hothouse of the U.S. presidential election.

“Multi-million euro weapons of mass operation”

Despite OpenAI's ban on using its tools in political campaigns, its products were used to create campaign art, track social media sentiment, build interactive chatbots, and engage voters in Indonesia's elections this month. Reuters reported that it was widely used as a target.

Harvath said it's an open question how startups like OpenAI can aggressively enforce their policies outside the United States.

“Each country is a little different, with different laws and cultural norms. When you run a US-focused company, you realize that things work differently in the US than they do in other parts of the world. can be difficult.”

Last year's national elections in Slovakia pitted pro-Russian candidates against those advocating stronger ties with the EU. Ballot papers include support for Ukraine's war effort, and EU officials say the vote could be at risk of interference by Russia and its “multi-million euro weapons of mass manipulation” emphasized by those.

As the election approached and a national media blackout began, an audio recording of pro-EU candidate Michal Šimeka was posted on Facebook.

In the recording, Simechka appears to discuss ways to rig elections by buying votes from marginalized communities. The audio was fake, and AFP news agency reported that it appeared to have been manipulated using AI.

However, media outlets and politicians are required to remain silent under election concealment laws, making it nearly impossible to uncover errors in the recording.

The doctored audio appears to have fallen through a loophole in how Facebook owner Meta Inc. polices AI-generated material on its platform.below it community standardsprohibits posting content that has been manipulated in a way that “the average person wouldn't understand,” or that has been edited to make someone say something they didn't say. However, this only applies to videos.

Pro-Russian candidate Robert Fico won the election and became prime minister.

When will we know that the future is here?

Despite the dangers, there are some signs that voters are better prepared for what's to come than officials think.

“Voters are smarter than we think,” Harvath said. “They may be overwhelmed, but they understand what's going on in the information environment.”

For many experts, the main concern is not the technologies we are already working on, but the innovations that are on the other side of the horizon.

Writing in MIT's Technology Review, academics said the public debate about how AI threatens democracy is “lacking imagination.” The real danger, they say, is not what we already fear, but what we cannot yet imagine.

“What rocks are we not examining?” Halvath asks. “New technologies emerge, new bad guys emerge. There are constant high and low tides, and we have to get used to living with them.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Mr. Sunak in Deepfake Video Ads on Facebook Issuing Election AI Warning

Posted on January 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

According to a study, more than 100 deepfake video ads impersonating Rishi Sunak were paid to promote on Facebook in the last month alone. This study warns of the risks posed by AI ahead of the general election.

The ads may have reached up to 400,000 people, despite potentially violating some of Facebook’s policies. It was the first time a prime minister’s image had been systematically defaced all at once.

Over £12,929 was spent on 143 ads from 23 countries, including the US, Turkey, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

One ad includes a breaking news story in which BBC newsreader Sarah Campbell falsely claims that a scandal has broken out centering on Mr. Sunak. It also includes a fake video that appears to be reading out loud.

The article falsely claims that Elon Musk has launched an application that can “collect” stock market trades and suggests the government should test the application. It includes a fabricated clip of Mr. Sunak saying he has made the decision.

The clip leads to a fake BBC news page promoting fraudulent investments.

research

The scheme was carried out by Fenimore Harper, the communications company founded by Marcus Beard, a former Downing Street official who was the number 10 head of counter-conspiracy theory during the coronavirus crisis. He warned that this ad, which shows a change in the quality of fakes, shows that this year’s election is at risk of being manipulated by a large amount of high-quality falsehoods generated by AI.

“With the advent of cheap and easy-to-use voice and facial cloning, little knowledge or expertise is required to use a person’s likeness for malicious purposes.”

“Unfortunately, this problem is exacerbated by lax moderation policies for paid ads. These ads violate several of Facebook’s advertising policies. However, few of the ads we found were removed. There was very little.”

Meta, the company that owns Facebook, has been contacted for comment.

A UK government spokesperson said: “We work widely across government, through the Democracy Defense Task Force and dedicated government teams, to ensure we respond quickly to any threats to democratic processes.”

“Our online safety laws go further by creating new requirements for social platforms to quickly remove illegal misinformation and disinformation – even if it is generated by AI – as it becomes aware of it.”

A BBC spokesperson said: “In a world where disinformation is on the rise, we urge everyone to ensure they get their news from trusted sources. We are committed to tackling the growing threat of disinformation. In 2023, we launched BBC Verify to investigate, fact-check, verify video, counter disinformation, analyze data and explain complex stories using a range of forensic and open source intelligence (OSINT) tools. We invest in a highly specialized team with

“We build trust with our viewers by showing them how BBC journalists know the information they report and explaining how to spot fake and deepfake content. When we become aware of fake content, we take swift action.”

Regulators are concerned that time is running out to enact sweeping changes to ensure Britain’s electoral system is ready for advances in artificial intelligence before the next general election, expected to be held in November.

The government continues to consult with regulators, including the Electoral Commission, and under legislation from 2022 there will be new requirements for digital campaign materials to include ‘imprints’, allowing voters to control who spends on advertising. This will ensure that you know who has paid and who is participating in your ads. To influence them.

Source: www.theguardian.com

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Tag Archives: election

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A wider texscape

EU increases pressure on Meta due to fears of Russian election meddling on Facebook

EU to investigate Meta’s election misinformation policies before June vote.

James Cleverley warns that Britain’s enemies could utilize AI deepfakes to manipulate election results

AI deepfake technology advances as billions get ready to vote in a packed election year | 2024 US Elections

Mission Impossible?

“Multi-million euro weapons of mass operation”

When will we know that the future is here?

Mr. Sunak in Deepfake Video Ads on Facebook Issuing Election AI Warning