On social media, false AI pictures of Trump with Black voters are gaining popularity | The Hill
On Saturday, February 24, 2024, the former president delivered a speech at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
In an attempt to garner support from Black voters, former President Donald Trump’s advocates have resorted to circulating deceptive images targeting Black individuals, as reported by BBC Panorama.
The BBC’s report unveiled a multitude of deepfakes portraying Black individuals purportedly supporting Trump.
Notably, conservative radio host Mark Kaye and his team fabricated an image showing Trump surrounded by a group of Black people, using AI technology. This concocted image was subsequently shared on social media platforms, reaching Kaye’s extensive following of over 1 million users.
Another individual known as “Matted” crafted an image placing Trump in the midst of a group of young Black individuals in front of a residence, which garnered significant traction on social media with 1.4 million views and numerous likes, according to the BBC’s findings.
However, discerning eyes can spot telltale signs of artificial manipulation in these AI-generated visuals, such as missing fingers on some individuals.
The proliferation of AI capabilities has sparked concerns regarding its potential implications in electoral processes.
For instance, AI-generated robocalls featuring President Biden were disseminated to voters in New Hampshire back in January, falsely advising them against voting due to baseless claims. The fabricated calls urged voters to reserve their ballots for the upcoming November election.
Recent studies have exposed instances where AI-powered bots disseminated misleading information to the public. One notable case involved Meta’s Llama 2 falsely asserting that Californian voters could submit their votes via text message upon receiving a prompt.
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign clarified to The Hill that the organization disavowed any association with the images uncovered by the BBC.
The campaign official emphasized that it is Trump’s adversaries who resort to leveraging AI for electoral interference, asserting, “The Trump Campaign bears no responsibility for these AI-generated images. We cannot dictate the actions of others in their content creation and dissemination.”
Trump has been actively engaging with Black voters, a demographic crucial to his political strategy.
While his overtures have drawn swift criticism from Black leaders and Biden, Trump maintains that his tough stance on criminal charges resonates with Black voters who have experienced discrimination.
Furthermore, Trump has ventured into retail, showcasing sneakers at Sneaker Con events, hinting at a potential joint bid with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL).
Mark Kaye, one of the creators of the fabricated images, admitted to the BBC that he never presented the visuals as authentic.
Kaye clarified, “I am not a photojournalist. I do not capture real-time events. I am a storyteller.”
He added, “I do not purport these images to be real. I am not asserting, ‘Look, Donald Trump attended this gathering with numerous African American supporters.’ Observe their admiration for him.” Kaye continued, “If anyone allows their voting decisions to be influenced by a photo on a social media page, the issue lies with that individual, not the content itself.”
To date, Congress has yet to enact legislation regulating the use of AI in electoral contexts.
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