Res. No. 851
Resolution calling on the Federal Election Commission to prohibit political candidates from using deceptive artificial intelligence in campaign communications.
By Council Members Menin, Ung, Hanif, Hudson, Gutiérrez and Brewer
Whereas, Fake pictures and videos are not new to political advertising; and
Whereas, Political campaigns increasingly rely on digital media to reach voters; and
Whereas, Advances in artificial intelligence allow campaigns to create ads and other types of campaign communications with fake images that are indistinguishable from real videos or photographs; and
Whereas, Recent advances in artificial intelligence make it easier and cheaper for campaigns to generate false pictures and videos; and
Whereas, Political campaigns have already started using artificial intelligence to create “deep fake” videos showing candidates saying or doing things that they never said or did; and
Whereas, Deceptive images or videos created by artificial intelligence can be used to spread misinformation; and
Whereas, Facebook, Instagram, and Google have recently adopted rules that require political ads to disclose when they use artificial intelligence; and
Whereas, The regulation of political advertisement should not be left up to private companies that directly profit from the same political advertising they are being asked to regulate; and
Whereas, There are currently no laws that specifically prohibit or limit the use of artificial intelligence in political ads; and
Whereas, Federal law prohibits candidates for federal offices from fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as speaking for another candidate or political party on a matter which is damaging to that candidate or party; and
Whereas, According to Public Citizen the Federal Elections Commission has the authority to regulate artificial intelligence in political campaigns under its authority to regulate fraudulent misrepresentations; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the Federal Election Commission to prohibit political candidates from using deceptive artificial intelligence in campaign communications.
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LS #14918
11/29/23
EHC