As India goes to poll, attempts to influence elections using ChatGPT thwarted

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As a seasoned crypto investor and tech enthusiast, I’ve closely followed the developments surrounding the use of AI in political manipulation, particularly during India’s general elections 2024. The revelation by OpenAI about an Israeli firm attempting to spread misinformation through ChatGPT is concerning, to say the least.

As I analyze the ongoing general elections in India, the world’s largest democracy, which is set to conclude on Saturday, there are growing worries about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate voter behavior. Reports from OpenAI, the innovators behind ChatGPT, have revealed several attempts to interfere with the elections through misinformation campaigns that employ AI technology.

According to a report published by OpenAI on Friday, the company identified and prevented at least five clandestine attempts to manipulate their model for deceitful purposes online. One of these attempts involved an Israeli firm named STOIC. OpenAI alleges that this firm was hired to disseminate false information about Indian elections, with a focus on creating negative comments towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and supporting the main opposition party, Congress. They reportedly utilized ChatGPT to generate unfavorable remarks on social media platforms.

At a pivotal moment, OpenAI’s disclosure unfolds as India concludes the last day of voting in its extensive 7-phase general election process, which has prolonged over a month. The anticipated outcomes will be declared on the 4th of June.

As a crypto investor and keen observer of global trends, I’ve come across a recent report published by OpenAI that sheds important light on the dangerous consequences of foreign state actors disseminating false information with the intention of manipulating elections in democratic countries. This insidious practice poses significant risks to the integrity of our democratic processes and the stability of financial markets. It is crucial for all investors, myself included, to remain vigilant and informed about such developments as they can have far-reaching implications on both political and economic landscapes.

As a crypto investor keeping an eye on global trends, I can’t help but be concerned about the findings in the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report 2024. Misinformation, it seems, poses a significant threat to nations around the world, including India with its large population and extensive internet reach.

As a researcher studying media consumption in India, I’ve noticed an escalating issue: with more than half of the population, around 870 million people, now using the internet primarily through mobile devices and affordable data plans, comes the increased challenge of distinguishing between trustworthy news sources and unverified ones. This is especially relevant given that India’s vast digital landscape provides ample opportunity for misinformation to thrive.

As a dedicated researcher focusing on combating misinformation in elections, I initiated the formation of “The Shakti-India Election Fact-Checking Collective.” Comprised of more than fifty esteemed news organizations and fact-checking platforms, our collective endeavored to tackle this pressing issue.

Over the past three months, a team of 260 fact-checkers, reporters, and editors have worked together daily to combat false information, conspiracy theories, bogus polls, and deepfakes during the elections. Backed by specialists from IITs and leading AI organizations, this initiative shielded millions of voters from misinformation, ensuring a fair and accurate electoral process.

With the backing of the Google News Initiative, this partnership is headed by DataLEADS in conjunction with the Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA), BOOM, The Quint, Vishwas News, Factly, Newschecker, and notable fact-checking organizations and news outlets such as India Today and Press Trust of India (PTI).

As a researcher studying the issue of misinformation in India, I’ve discovered that past attempts to address this challenge have resulted in comprehensive training and capacity-building schemes. Fortunately, I’ve been able to be part of these initiatives, which have positively impacted more than 100 newsrooms and over 5,000 journalists across the country. Supported by the Google News Initiative, these programs have equipped us with valuable skills to better identify and counter misinformation in our respective languages.

India’s elections provide crucial insights into how misinformation proliferates and goes viral on various platforms. Consequently, India now leads the world with a significant number of fact-checkers in place. In stark contrast to 2018 when just a few fact-checking organizations were present, India currently hosts 17 certified fact-checking organizations by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). This surpasses the United States, which has 12 such organizations.

As India wraps up its massive democratic elections, there is growing anxiety over the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping public opinion. With AI-fabricated false information spreading rampantly, how can we ensure the sanctity of our electoral processes?

The increasing reliance on mobile internet has made it more difficult to discern real news from fabricated information. Fortunately, collaborative initiatives like the Shakti-India Election Fact-Checking Collective, backed by major tech and media companies, are spearheading this effort in India, serving as a model for the rest of the world.

The shifting strategies of misinformation campaigns serve as a reminder of the importance of staying alert and finding new ways to counteract these deceitful efforts.

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2024-06-01 10:12