Meta Reports No Evidence of AI-driven Misinformation Influencing 2024 Elections
Meta has reported that fears regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to spread misinformation during elections in 2024 have not materialized. According to Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs, AI-driven disinformation campaigns did not have a significant impact on elections, despite widespread concerns. Meta’s defenses against coordinated influence operations were effective, with no major evidence that generative AI was used to deceive voters on the platform.
Clegg noted that while there were expectations of AI being used for deep fakes and misinformation, the reality did not match those fears. He highlighted that Meta had successfully disrupted most major influence operations in recent years, particularly those attributed to actors from Russia, Iran, and China. However, Clegg emphasized that Meta would remain vigilant, as the capabilities of generative AI tools are expected to improve.
In response to industry concerns, preventing the misuse of AI in elections became a collective effort. Clegg also mentioned that 2024, expected to be the largest election year globally, saw about 2 billion people going to the polls in various countries, further amplifying the importance of maintaining election integrity.
Meta’s content moderation policies, especially in the context of AI, have evolved over time, with Clegg acknowledging that the company may have over-moderated content during the Covid-19 pandemic. He stressed that Meta would continue refining its content moderation efforts while recognizing the difficulty in satisfying all viewpoints.
