US Election Officials Combat AI-Generated Deepfake Robocalls with Low-Tech Strategies

AI Deepfake Robocalls: A New Threat to Election Integrity

As the November 5th US presidential election approaches, state officials are gearing up to combat a novel threat: AI-generated deepfake robocalls. While fake videos of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris have failed to gain traction, election officials from Arizona to Vermont are more concerned about audio deepfakes delivered directly to voters' phones 1

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The Challenge of Audio Deepfakes

Unlike AI-generated photos and videos, which often contain visible artifacts, audio deepfakes are particularly challenging for the average voter to detect. Amy Cohen, executive director of the National Association of State Election Directors, emphasizes that audio is most concerning due to its difficulty in tracking and verification 1

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Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold states, "We've already seen examples of audio deepfakes. It's not something that is this imaginary technology. It's here" 1

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. This sentiment underscores the immediacy of the threat and the need for proactive measures.

Low-Tech Strategies to Combat High-Tech Threats

In response to this emerging threat, election officials are adopting surprisingly old-school tactics:

1. Secret Code Words: Officials are considering using secret code words to verify identities over the phone, a tactic reminiscent of spy novels 1

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2. Community Engagement: Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon plans to enlist local and religious leaders to help debunk false information quickly 1

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3. Traditional Media: In rural areas like Maine, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows suggests using simple methods like posting signs in towns and at fire stations to amplify important news 1

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4. Public Awareness Campaigns: The Illinois State Board of Elections launched its first ad campaign warning of election disinformation, airing on 37 television and 270 radio stations 1

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Learning from Past Incidents

A January 2024 incident in New Hampshire, where a robocall impersonating President Joe Biden urged Democrats not to vote, served as a wake-up call. The political consultant behind the call was fined $6 million in September 1

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. New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan described the rapid response to this incident, which involved issuing statements and leveraging local media coverage 1

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The Race Against Time

State officials are particularly concerned about false information spreading just days before the election, leaving little time for correction. This time pressure underscores the importance of preparedness and quick response strategies 1

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Griswold aptly summarizes the challenge: "The issue with AI technology is that we literally need to train ourselves to not believe our eyes and ears" 1

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. This statement highlights the paradigm shift required in voter education and election security in the age of AI.