IGF 2024 Youth Track – AI and Threats: new strategies to detect AI-generated political deepfakes – Pre 10 2024

17 June 2024 | 14:30 - 15:30 EEST | WS room 1
Consolidated programme 2024

Session teaser

In the crucial election year of 2024, through a dialogue between the current and next generation of experts and leaders, we will explore the challenges posed by political deepfakes, their direct and indirect effects on elections and public trust, and collaborative strategies to safeguard the integrity of democratic processes.

Session description

The UN IGF ‎Secretariat, in collaboration with the current IGF Host Country and all Youth IGF ‎coordinators, is designing and implementing the IGF Youth Track as a capacity development activity implemented throughout the year-round IGF ‎process including at the annual IGF meeting. This year's IGF Youth Track is focused on unpacking AI governance. Under the motto Empowering youth leaders for trusted AI, the track will be officially launched at EuroDIG with the very first capacity development workshop.

Through a dialogue with senior stakeholders, a network of Youth IGF coordinators will explore the significant influence of AI on democracy by deepfakes impacting the political discourse. In recent years, the quality of deep fake technology has improved dramatically, and with its widespread accessibility, it is now available to a vast audience at minimal cost. It is estimated that the number of deepfakes tripled in 2023, compared to 2022. With 2024 being a pivotal election year, this session explores the impact of deepfakes on the political discourse, the challenges arising from this, and how we can collaboratively strive to safeguard the integrity of elections and democratic processes.

Together with senior experts, the Youth IGF network will discuss both the direct and indirect effects of political deepfakes. While political deepfakes can be used in campaigns to influence voters and elections, the indirect effect of this widespread technology cannot be understated. The pollution of the public information ecosystem and the inability to distinguish between fact and fake can lead to uncertainty and distrust. In this session, we will delve into strategies to enhance election integrity and build trust in democracy amidst the growing prevalence of political deepfakes.

Format

Interactive roundtable exchange between youth from around the world and senior experts. Several policy questions will guide the discussion:

• How have you seen deepfakes influence and interfere with political discourse and voter perception in recent years? Can you share specific examples where deepfakes have significantly impacted election outcomes or political campaigns?
• Given the rapid advancements in deepfake technology and its increasing accessibility, what are the most pressing challenges we face in regulating and mitigating the misuse of this technology in the political arena? In your experience, how can youth help reshape these regulatory frameworks?
• With 2024 being a pivotal election year, what strategies have you implemented or would you recommend to be introduced, to safeguard the integrity of elections against the threats posed by deepfakes? How can we ensure that voters can trust the information they receive? What role social media platforms have with respect to providing actual information to people?
• How can we empower youth with digital agency to combat the rise of disinformation fueled by deepfake technology? What educational initiatives or programs have shown promise in helping young people identify and resist deepfake misinformation?
• In light of the growing prevalence of political deepfakes, what measures can be taken to rebuild and maintain trust in democratic processes? How can we collectively enhance the public's ability to distinguish between fact and fake to prevent the erosion of trust in our information ecosystem?

Further reading

About the IGF Youth Track

• IGF 2024 Youth Track
• Repository for youth track: sources to consult on artificial intelligence

Former IGF sessions on deepfakes

• IGF 2023 Lightning Talk #151 How deep is your fake: Online Fraud Techniques

About deepfakes

• Tackling deepfakes in European Policy, written by the European Parliamentary Research Service
• A look at global deepfake regulation approaches, written by Responsible AI Institute
• Facing reality? Law enforcement and the challenge of deepfakes, written by the Europol Innovation Lab

People

Focal Points:

• Anja Gengo, UN IGF Secretariat
• Nadia Tjahja, YOUthDIG Coordinator

Moderator:

• Pilar Rodriguez, YOUthDIG Organizing Team and coordinator of Youth IGF Spain

Speakers and contributors:

• Chengetai Masango, UN IGF Secretariat, Head of Office
• Emili Khachatryan, YOUthDIG 2024/Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth
• Thomas Aarheim, YOUthDIG 2024/UN Student Association of Norway
• Everton Rodrigue, CGI.br/Brazil IGF
• Meri Baghdasaryan, Senior Case and Policy Officer, Meta Oversight Board

Rapporteurs:

• Phyo T., Myanmar Youth IGF coordinator
• Saba Tiku, Ethiopia Youth IGF coordinator

Online moderators:

• Levy Syanseke, Zambia Youth IGF