The AI Threat: Misinformation and the 2024 Elections

With the 2024 U.S. elections only a month away, there’s no doubt that AI is playing an unprecedented role in shaping public perception. While AI has driven innovation across industries, it has also become increasingly accessible to those seeking to exploit its capabilities for disinformation and deception. 

As the Office of the Director of National Intelligence outlined in late September, Russia and Iran are using AI to influence the American election. This warning confirms that AI-generated disinformation campaigns, which were already seen in international elections this year, are now happening in the U.S. As we enter the final month ahead of the election, this rise of AI-generated misinformation, including deepfakes, presents new challenges to voters, governments, and social media platforms alike.

Misinformation on the Rise

Swimlane recently surveyed 500 cybersecurity decision-makers about their perception of AI in the workplace and beyond. While the full report is due to be released in October, there was one stat we felt couldn’t wait: 74% of cybersecurity decision-makers agree that the use of AI to generate misleading information poses a significant risk to the US. These individuals know firsthand that AI technology is becoming cheaper and easier to access. As a result, the volume of misleading information will only surge ahead of November 5.

AI is no longer the exclusive domain of well resourced organizations. Today, anyone with an internet connection and basic knowledge can access AI tools. While this democratization is exciting in many ways, it also unlocks Pandora’s box of fabricated media – from deepfake videos to misleading articles – threatening to inundate online platforms.

One of the most alarming AI threats is the rise of deepfakes—highly convincing videos that realistically fabricate actions or statements by individuals, raising profound ethical and societal implications. A recent deepfake involving Taylor Swift was a chilling reminder of how easily recognizable figures can be targeted. And this is just one of many examples we’ve seen this year.

Visual misinformation is particularly dangerous because people instinctively trust what they see. This makes it harder for the average person to distinguish between authentic and altered content. The implications are vast, especially in the political sphere, where deepfakes could discredit candidates or manipulate voters.

Legal and Ethical Gray Areas

The intersection of AI and misinformation raises tough questions, particularly around free speech. Deepfakes and AI-manipulated content blur the lines between creative expression and malicious intent. At what point does edited content stop being a form of art or satire and start becoming a dangerous lie?

From a legal perspective, this question is especially challenging. While some laws address disinformation, the evolving nature of AI-generated content makes enforcement difficult. The European Union recently formalized its Artificial Intelligence Act, making it the first regulation of AI systems in the EU. However, in the U.S. current federal regulations governing deepfakes and AI content may not account for the rapid advances in technology, leaving critical ethical and legal challenges unresolved.

Where We Go From Here

The same AI-driven techniques that are being used to influence elections—whether through deepfakes, fake voices, or highly tailored text messages—are increasingly being leveraged to compromise organizations. The reality is that AI isn’t just being used for political manipulation; it’s also being applied to highly targeted phishing attacks, like those that trick new homebuyers into wiring their closing payment to the wrong account by sending a tailored, well-timed email.

This level of sophistication opens up new avenues for attackers, expanding an already growing attack surface. As technology reliance deepens across industries, the volume and complexity of cyber threats will only increase.

To keep up with this rapid escalation, companies must embrace automation and integrate AI into their defenses. With AI being used on both sides of the equation—by attackers and defenders—efficiency will be key. The direction we need to head in is clear: it’s not just about staying ahead of attackers but about evolving in step with them, using AI to meet the challenges of an increasingly sophisticated digital landscape.