As AI images become common, the threat to elections draws alarm: ‘How will voters know what’s true?’

A fabricated image falsely depicting a Georgia mayor kissing an unidentified man in a bar circulated widely on Facebook before its deepfake origins were exposed, raising alarms about the rapid spread of AI-driven misinformation. The incident highlights growing concerns among lawmakers and advocates over how manipulated media can undermine public trust and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. Experts warn that once such content gains traction, correcting the record often proves difficult, leaving reputations and democratic discourse at risk. The case underscores the urgent need for solutions to combat the growing threat of AI-generated disinformation.

Deepfakes and misinformation driven by artificial intelligence have become a point of deep concern for legislators, advocates and the publicAn image of College Park, Georgia mayor Bianca Motley Broom kissing a man – who was not her husband – in a bar spread far and wide on Facebook. The fact that it’s fake is spreading faster, now, but only after it had been seen by thousands of people.“I think this is a sad commentary about where we are in our democracy, and where we are in our political discourse,” Motley Broom said. “It also seeks to reinforce really tired stereotypes about women in leadership.” Continue reading...