Ask the expert: What voters need to know about the rise of political deepfakes

As artificial intelligence technology becomes more advanced, political deepfakes are becoming increasingly prevalent and harder to distinguish from genuine content. The University of Missouri's Department of Journalism is helping voters navigate this shifting media landscape ahead of the upcoming midterms. Experts advise that voters should be wary of AI-generated videos, images, and audio that appear to show individuals saying or doing things they never actually did.

These deepfakes, along with AI-created political content such as influencers, campaign materials, and foreign misinformation, are designed to persuade voters and can be created with minimal technical expertise. The visual cues that previously helped identify manipulated content are diminishing as AI technology improves. People are more likely to believe AI-generated content that aligns with their pre-existing beliefs and biases, and this influence extends beyond vote manipulation to affect how candidates and issues are perceived.

To combat misinformation, voters should verify claims using multiple credible, independent sources and verify the legitimacy of information before making important decisions. While efforts to regulate false election information must be balanced against free-speech concerns, it's crucial for voters to remain skeptical and seek out verified information from trusted sources.