Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken Issues Warning on Threat of Disinformation and Artificial Intelligence
In a speech at the Summit for Democracy in Seoul, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken raised concerns about the growing threat of disinformation and artificial intelligence to democracies around the world. He warned that a “flood” of malicious disinformation is fueling suspicion, cynicism, and instability globally, with anti-democratic forces exploiting changes in the flow of information.
Blinken highlighted the upcoming elections in countries representing nearly half of the world’s population, including India, as particularly vulnerable to manipulated information. He emphasized the need for increased digital and media literacy programs to help news consumers discern the reliability of content, as adversaries like China are adept at laundering propaganda and disinformation.
The Secretary of State also pointed to the rise of generative A.I. programs that can deceive even sophisticated news consumers, calling for social media platforms to take more action in labeling A.I.-generated content. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, recently announced plans to label such content on its platforms.
The challenges posed by artificial intelligence were further underscored by a recent report commissioned by the State Department, which warned of “catastrophic risks” associated with A.I. systems capable of superhuman persuasion. The report raised concerns about the potential for A.I. to undermine the democratic process through election interference and voter manipulation.
In addition to the threat of disinformation, Blinken discussed the use of commercial spyware by governments to monitor and intimidate journalists and political activists. He announced that six countries, including Finland, Germany, and Japan, were joining a U.S.-led coalition to ensure that commercial spyware is deployed in line with universal human rights and basic freedoms.
The Summit for Democracy, initiated by President Biden in 2021, aims to promote best civil society practices and defend against political sabotage. Blinken’s visit to Seoul coincided with North Korea’s latest test launch of short-range ballistic missiles, following joint military exercises with South Korea that the North denounced as provocative. While Blinken did not address the missile launches directly, the State Department condemned them and expressed concerns about North Korea’s military support for Russia’s war against Ukraine.
As the threat of disinformation and artificial intelligence continues to evolve, the global community faces a pressing need to safeguard democratic processes and protect the integrity of information.
