It's almost time for the 2024 European elections! However, this not only promises to be a battle between political parties, but it will also be a test for democratic processes influenced by artificial intelligence (AI). In this blog, we look at how AI influenced previous elections and what this means for the European elections, based on recent developments and news reports.

AI has two sides of the coin

Why two sides? AI has the potential to both strengthen and undermine elections. On the one hand, AI can better inform voters and help them make informed decisions. On the other hand, it involves risks such as disinformation, manipulation, and invasion of privacy. Let's zoom in on these two sides.

The top: Positive Influences of AI

As indicated, a positive aspect is that AI offers the opportunity to better inform voters. A good example of this is one that was discussed in the article by the BNR: AI can help voters obtain information about voting procedures & party programs via platforms such as Whatsapp. This is very accessible for voters and can therefore have an impact on higher turnout & better informed voters. Convenience serves people!

But that is not the only advantage. AI can also be a good tool for the campaign team behind a political party. Through advanced data analysis, political parties can better tailor their campaigns to the wishes and needs of voters. This can lead to more targeted and effective communication between politicians and citizens.

The bottom: Dangers of Disinformation and Manipulation

Unfortunately, the risks of AI are just as great, whether or not greater, than the benefits. In an episode of Nieuwsuur was discussed about manipulating public opinion through AI. For example, in Indonesia's elections, candidate Prabowo used Subianto Ai to create a 'cute' image of him on social media, even though he was certainly not a sweetheart in his past. The result? The accuracy of the information and the possible manipulation of public opinion.

This is what the publishers of AI platforms such as OpenAI & Gemini have been called upon to do so and have tried as much as possible to ensure that the AI does not answer political questions. The only disadvantage here is that they follow their own rules.

Nieuwsuur also has an article written about how chatbots and AI systems can spread disinformation and spread fear among voters. This is even greater with the rise of deepfakes: credible but false images and videos of politicians. This goes one step further than the first mentioned example. Experts do not expect a huge wave of deepfakes in the upcoming elections, but do indicate that the risk is present. According to an article by the US.

The conclusion from the bottom of the media is that disinformation & deepfakes can undermine trust in politics and influence the outcome of elections by misleading voters. Social Media plays a major role in spreading this.

The European AI Act and Lobbying Activities

Now that we have discussed the two sides, the question is: how to proceed? A crucial aspect of this discussion is the role of regulations, which we cannot determine nationally. That's why the European Union is working on an AI law to manage the risks of AI.

This discussion also has two sides. like this NOS article shows, there are intense lobbying activities underway to influence legislation. This includes tech companies that, for example, are trying to achieve more flexible rules so as not to hamper innovation.

During a recent interview on Nieuwsuur was emphasized how important it is for legislators to be aware of the potential dangers of AI, but also not to lose sight of the benefits. A balanced approach is essential to ensure that AI is used responsibly during elections. In other words, we don't expect a judgment tomorrow.

What will AI mean in the 2024 European elections?

The impact of AI on the 2024 European elections will be significant. AI has the potential to strengthen democracy by better informing voters and making campaigns more efficient. At the same time, it involves significant risks, such as disinformation, manipulation and the spread of deepfakes.

Now the challenge lies in finding the balance between innovation & regulation, which actually needs to be determined worldwide. At the moment, the creators of the AIs set their own rules, sometimes being tapped on the fingers. AI will therefore certainly still be used for the European elections, but that will be less than the elections in Indonesia, for example. Experts do indicate that they pay close attention to which information is correct and which is not!

So there is still work to be done: Legislators must ensure that the legislation provides adequate protection against the negative aspects of AI, without hampering its benefits.

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