Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has announced plans to create a team dedicated to combating deceptive artificial intelligence content ahead of the upcoming EU elections in June. The company is concerned about the potential misuse of generative AI, which can create fake videos, images, and audio to deceive voters.
This announcement comes on the same day that Home Secretary James Cleverly warned that some individuals may use AI-generated fakes to influence general elections. Meta has not confirmed if similar measures will be implemented for upcoming UK and US elections.
The European Parliament elections are scheduled for June 6-9, and Meta plans to launch an “EU-specific Elections Operations Centre” to identify and address potential threats in real time. The company has invested over $20 billion in safety and security measures since 2016 and has expanded its global team to 40,000 people, including 15,000 content reviewers.
Meta will work with fact-checking organizations across the EU to debunk misinformation, particularly content involving AI-generated elements. Posts spreading misinformation will be labeled and made less prominent, with restrictions on their use in ads. The company emphasizes the need for collaboration with industry, government, and civil society to address the issue of AI-generated content online.
