The US Department of Justice raised concerns against the AI-fueled attacks on election workers as the November voting polls inch closer to opening.
In a press briefing on Monday, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco noted how AI and other technological advances are "emboldening those threatening election workers and the integrity of our elections."
According to Monaco, AI technologies are enabling malicious actors to "hide their identities and obscure sources" while spreading disinformation, harassment, and violent threats online.
This is in addition to the technology supposedly being used to "recruit and radicalize" people with "incendiary social media content," Monaco claimed.
The deputy attorney general's statement follows a surge in public officials expressing concerns for their safety as targeted harassment becomes more common.
A May 2024 survey from the Brennan Center for Justice even noted that more than one-third or 38% of the election officers that resigned from their positions were partly due to safety concerns.
DOJ to Seek 'Enhanced Sentences' Against Election Disrupters
In response to the growing threat of technology against public and election workers, the DOJ is updating its policies ahead of the 2024 Elections to protect public servants much better.
One of the department's immediate actions is to seek "enhanced sentences" against those considered to be a "threat to democracy" via the DOJ's Election Threats Task Force.
The department did not specify how it will enforce the stricter policies but hinted at possibilities to deploy its newly-formed AI and civil rights division.
Related Article : US Justice Department Names First AI Chief Officer Amid Regulation Calls
US Gov't Cracks Down on Deepfake Ahead of Presidential Elections
The DOJ's efforts are expected to complement earlier initiatives from other departments and lawmakers clamping down on potential abuse of AI technology and deepfakes ahead of the election period.
The Federal Communication Commission has already started by prohibiting the use of deepfake voices in robocalls following the spread of AI-generated voice recordings of US President Joe Biden during a Democracy primary last January.
Several legislations are already being proposed to monitor AI companies' latest project developments to identify security and safety concerns on the technology immediately.
