Hilary Clinton Warns of AI Threats
to Democratic Elections at The World Forum

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has raised concerns about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in democratic elections. Speaking on the issue at the World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech and Humankind on 18 & 19 February 2024 in Berlin, Secretary Clinton highlighted the dangers posed by AI-driven misinformation and disinformation campaigns, specifically citing an example involving fake phone calls allegedly from presidential candidates.

“Here’s what’s new. And this is what you have to look for in your elections, just like we are going to have to in ours. And that’s artificial intelligence. Because now it won’t be somebody else making a charge against Trump or Biden. It will be using the words, using the actual figure of one of these two men, to say things that are not true," she stated.

Secretary Clinton referenced an incident where AI was used to mimic President Joe Biden's voice in phone calls, falsely urging people not to vote. This incident is currently under criminal investigation. She emphasised the increasing difficulty in combating such AI-generated misinformation due to its sophisticated nature and widespread dissemination, particularly through online platforms.

"It’s going to be such a flood of mis- and disinformation. It will be very hard to stop it all and I think voters and citizens have to be much more on alert as to what they’re being told, especially online, because that’s the main delivery system for people," she warned.

Despite the challenges, Clinton expressed some optimism, noting improvements in government preparedness and media awareness since the 2016 elections. “I do think our government is better prepared, I think the press, they didn’t understand it, they didn’t believe it or cover it in 2016, but I think the press is much better educated about it, so, I’m hopeful that, when it comes, because it will, there will be a way of combating it more effectively,” she concluded.