A frequent subject of intense criticism from the Republican party, Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is fortifying his digital defenses for the upcoming re-election campaign.
Scheduled to appear on the ballot in November, alongside all House of Representatives members, the long-serving California Congressman has partnered with Wolfsbane.ai’s technology services to shield himself from AI deepfakes and other forms of manipulation.
“Preserving the integrity of our democratic processes is paramount,” remarked Rep. Swalwell on Tuesday regarding the challenges of running for office in the modern era. “Utilizing advanced tools like Wolfsbane.ai to counter deepfakes is not merely a choice but a vital measure in protecting elections from deceit and misinformation,” emphasized the ranking member of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Congressional Subcommittee.
A vocal proponent of leveraging technology in contemporary politics, Swalwell stands as the inaugural elected official to collaborate with Wolfsbane.ai, setting a precedent that others may follow.
“AI represents a formidable technology,” Swalwell acknowledged, perhaps an understatement of the decade. “When wielded irresponsibly, it can appropriate the appearance and voice of public figures to erode their credibility and propagate false information. Wolfsbane.ai aims to mitigate these risks for me.”
Conceived by the founders of Play Cubed—Randy Saaf, Octavio Herrera, Fazri Zubair, and Noah Edelman—Wolfsbane.ai essentially embeds watermarks into content to impede AI replication or misappropriation.
“We are honored to collaborate with Rep. Swalwell’s campaign,” expressed Play Cubed CEO Saaf to Deadline. “We believe our technology can serve as a potent tool in combating AI fabrications during this critical election cycle.”
“Deepfakes also facilitate our adversaries in impersonating public figures to disseminate misinformation or undermine their credibility,” Swalwell highlighted during a House committee hearing on AI held on December 12, 2023.
This session transpired just a year subsequent to ChatGPT’s public debut and a few weeks after President Joe Biden’s issuance of Executive Order 14110, outlining directives and safeguards for AI development and utilization within the federal government. Expanding on this initiative, Vice President Kamala Harris and the Office of Management and Budget recently unveiled “binding requirements” across three domains: Reinforcing AI Governance, Promoting Responsible AI Innovation, and Managing Risks.
The tangible risks posed in this year’s anticipated contentious election were directly addressed by the New Hampshire state House on March 29, with the progression of a bill mandating full disclosure of AI utilization in political advertising by candidates and their supporters. In January, New Hampshire residents experienced firsthand the detrimental potential of AI through robocalls purportedly originating from President Biden, advising against participation in the state’s primary—spoiler alert: they were not endorsed by POTUS.
Having collaborated with prominent entities such as Lionsgate, CBS, ESPN, and the NBA over the years, the Play Cubed team reportedly reached out to Rep. Swalwell subsequent to his remarks in December 2023 regarding the potency of AI-generated deepfakes. Upon familiarizing himself with their Wolfsbane.ai technology, the Congressman enlisted its services for his campaign in California’s 14th District.
Notably, AI and its applications played a pivotal role in the recent WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes and negotiations, as the guilds endeavored to safeguard employment opportunities for their members.
With the protective clauses now integrated into the agreements of writers and actors, AI has emerged as a significant factor in the ongoing discussions between the AMPTP, IATSE, and the Teamsters. In the midst of these current labor negotiations, several AI companies have engaged in dialogues with studios and streaming platforms keen on further integrating the technology into film and television productions.
The specific nature of this integration remains to be determined.
