Sen. Mark R. Warner, a Virginia Democrat, has raised alarms about the expected increase in digital disinformation campaigns from U.S. adversaries, particularly China and Iran, as the presidential election approaches.
The Washington Times is reporting that Warner is warning that these adversaries might utilize artificial intelligence to create convincing deepfake videos designed to spread chaos and misinformation, especially in the aftermath of the election.
Warner specifically highlighted the vulnerability of election processes during the days immediately following the vote, when the potential for contested results could lead to significant disarray.
Warner emphasized that the post-election period could be particularly perilous if the outcome is uncertain.
“The two, three, four days after the election is where we could really see bad things happen,” he told the Times. “Think about the potential of a deepfake of someone who appears to be an election official [on] Election Day or the day after election appearing to destroy ballots, and artificial intelligence can just simply allow these activities to be done at speed and scale that’s unprecedented.”
He underscored the risks posed by hostile nations’ disinformation efforts to disrupt American democracy, noting that they could create fake scenarios, such as portraying election officials destroying ballots, to manipulate public perception.
This concern is compounded by a briefing from senior U.S. intelligence officials who warned that these disinformation campaigns are a persistent threat, regardless of whether votes have been cast.
Moreover, Warner expressed frustration with the Biden administration’s handling of foreign policy, particularly in Venezuela. He believes more proactive support for pro-democracy movements could mitigate potential immigration crises at the U.S. border. He cautioned that President Nicolás Maduro’s reinstallation could result in a mass exodus of Venezuelans, potentially adding to immigration challenges in the U.S.
“All four of those nations, and I’d throw in Cuba and Venezuela as well, want to undermine American leadership in the world. They want to undermine our market-based economy,” Warner told the Times.
In discussing broader security issues, Warner also pointed out the need for intelligence agencies to better adapt to the rapid advancements in AI technology, which could enhance their capabilities and pose new risks. He emphasized the importance of cybersecurity measures to protect U.S. electoral integrity, particularly in the face of potential attacks from adversarial nations.