WASHINGTON — Doug Plummer served as the mayor of Sharon Springs, New York, a small and tightly-knit community with just over 500 residents.
Described as someone who could make anyone feel like their best friend after just one meeting, Plummer’s charisma and warmth left a lasting impression on those around him, according to his friend Corbie Mitleid.
Tragically, Plummer succumbed to cancer in December, leaving behind a legacy of kindness and community spirit.
Following his passing, Mitleid was taken aback when she discovered a series of falsified obituaries circulating online, painting a distorted picture of Plummer’s life and death.
The prevalence of such misinformation, attributed to the rise of AI-generated content, has become a growing concern, noted Grant Fergusson, an Equal Justice Works Fellow at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).
Fergusson explained that these inaccuracies, including erroneous details in obituaries, stem from AI hallucinations, where computer systems amalgamate disparate information to create misleading narratives.
The proliferation of AI-generated misinformation not only poses a threat to factual accuracy but also raises worries about potential exploitation by scammers targeting vulnerable individuals in mourning, as highlighted by Amy Nofziger, Director of Fraud Victim Support at AARP.
To safeguard against falling victim to fake obituaries and scams, Nofziger advised individuals to verify information directly from trusted sources, such as funeral homes or official announcements, and to exercise caution when encountering unfamiliar or suspicious URLs.
In response to the escalating issue of AI-generated misinformation, efforts are being made at the legislative level to regulate artificial intelligence and mitigate the dissemination of false information. While President Biden signed an executive order emphasizing AI safety and security, there remains a lack of mandatory labeling for AI-generated content, although platforms like YouTube have taken voluntary steps to implement such labels.
As discussions continue in Congress regarding AI regulation, Mitleid expressed hope that lawmakers will address the urgent need to combat misinformation propagated by AI to shield grieving families from further distress and exploitation.
Fergusson emphasized the pivotal role of data privacy regulations in curbing harmful AI practices, underscoring the importance of stringent guidelines governing data collection and usage by companies to uphold ethical standards and protect individuals from misinformation.
