By Adam Pagnucco.
Deepfakes are phony images and videos created with artificial intelligence that spread false information, including about candidates and elections. WMAR-2 in Baltimore highlighted these two X posts as examples.
A deepfake about Donald Trump.
A deepfake about Kamala Harris.
Let me emphasize: the above images are not real. They are offered as illustrations of the pernicious nature of this technology.
Maryland State Election Administrator Jared DeMarinis has issued a video with suggestions on how to fight deepfakes. The video and a transcript appear below.
Hi, I’m Jared DeMarinis, Maryland’s State Election Administrator. I want to talk to you about deepfakes. These deepfake videos can make anyone say or do anything. Their purpose: to spread misleading or straight out false information regarding elections and the electoral process. Their mission: to sow distrust and disenfranchise you as a voter. To silence your voice.
Don’t let that happen. Even innocent sharing can have consequences. So before you share something, here are three tips.
Tip number one: verify before you share.
Tip number two: use our website, https://elections.maryland.gov/, or our social media accounts as your trusted source of information about the election.
And tip number three: report suspicious information. We have a dis and misinformation portal on our website for you to report that.
Don’t let deepfakes fool you this election season. Follow these tips and keep deepfakes out of our elections.
Thank you.