Deepfake of President Biden Urging Voter Suppression Triggers Investigation

Story by Brenda Kanana • 12h  Cryptopolitan

Deepfake of President Biden Urging Voter Suppression Triggers Investigation© Provided by Cryptopolitan

An alarming deepfake audio featuring US President Joe Biden urging people not to vote in the New Hampshire primary has sparked a swift response from both the private sector and law enforcement agencies. The creator of this audacious deepfake has been suspended by ElevenLabs, a startup specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) software for voice replication. This incident has raised serious concerns about the potential misuse of AI-driven deepfake technology to disrupt elections and suppress voter turnout.

ElevenLabs, the technology provider behind the creation of the deepfake audio, has taken immediate action by suspending the user responsible for generating the malicious content. Pindrop Security Inc., a voice-fraud detection company, confirmed that ElevenLabs’ technology was used to produce the deepfake.

Upon learning of Pindrop’s findings, ElevenLabs launched an internal investigation into the incident. The startup, which recently secured an impressive $80 million in financing from investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital, now faces questions about the potential misuse of its AI-driven voice-cloning technology.

Alarming implications for election security

The deepfake robocall featuring President Biden has raised significant concerns among disinformation experts and elections officials. Not only does this incident underscore the relative ease with which audio deepfakes can be created, but it also highlights the potential for bad actors to leverage this technology to deter voters from participating in elections.

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