Disruptive Technology in Elections
- TCCRI Staff
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
As a general matter, the free market should be trusted to regulate itself and course correct where things go wrong. This remains the case for regulating AI in elections.
House Committee on Elections
Today’s charge on technology in elections touches on a variety of important issues playing a rapidly expanding role in the elections process and political communications. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how campaigns operate, how the communicate, and the content of their communications. The Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute (TCCRI) is grateful for the opportunity to weigh in on these topics.
Though long the subject of science fiction, AI is now ubiquitous and present in nearly every aspect of our lives, and elections are no exception. AI is used to generate campaign advertisements, email communications, text communications, and fundraising solicitations. Indeed, 40% of respondents in a survey conducted by the American Association of Political Consultants believe AI will “fundamentally transform” the future of the political consulting profession. A majority of the respondents stated that they use AI on a weekly basis and one third of them use it daily. The National Democratic Training Committee has created an “AI Playbook” in advance of the midterm elections. The three-part training covers the basics of how AI works, how it should be used for campaigns, including social media, emails, speeches, and phone-banking scripts, and how AI should not be used for campaigns, which includes recommendations against deepfakes of opponents, impersonating real people, and deceiving voters.
There is a danger in attempting to regulate a new technology or industry. As a general matter, the market should be trusted to regulate itself and course correct where things go wrong. Indeed, TCCRI’s approach to AI regulation has been to recommend a “wait and see” approach rather than a proactive regulatory approach. That remains true with election-related AI.
Read the full testimony in the link above.
