California Attorney General Urges Tech Companies to Fight AI Misinformation Pre-Election
As artificial intelligence (AI) and social media platforms continue to play a significant role in the spread of information, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken proactive steps to ensure the integrity of upcoming elections. In a letter addressed to the CEOs of leading tech companies, Bonta underscored the importance of preventing voter intimidation, deception, and dissuasion that could be exacerbated by these platforms' tools. His message is clear: as gatekeepers of information, tech companies must ensure accurate and fair election-related content is delivered to users.
The Letter and Its Recipients
On Wednesday, Bonta wrote to executives of major corporations including Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Reddit, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. This move came the day after a televised debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, signaling the heightened significance of the upcoming election season.
The letter was a reminder of the laws already in place within California, prohibiting misinformation regarding voter eligibility and polling locations, as well as intentionally misleading media about candidates in the 60 days preceding an election. Moreover, Bonta emphasized that these platforms should actively train teams to identify and remove such deceptive content.
Election Misinformation and Voter Intimidation
Bonta’s letter addressed more than just misinformation. He cited California’s election code, which also prohibits voter intimidation and efforts to bribe individuals into voting a certain way. The Attorney General expressed concern that the same platforms used by millions of Californians to stay informed could also become vehicles for harmful content that disrupts the democratic process.
“You play a critical role in the information ecosystem where many Californians get their news and guidance about elections,” Bonta wrote. “Your platforms have the responsibility to ensure that voters are equipped with accurate and truthful information about their right to vote.”
AI’s Troubling Role in Elections
One of the more alarming points raised by Bonta involved AI-generated content. He referenced instances where AI was used to interfere with elections, including a case earlier in 2024 in which an AI-generated recording of President Joe Biden’s voice was circulated, discouraging voters from participating in the New Hampshire Democratic primary.
Bonta also noted a broader industry trend of reduced content moderation efforts, which could further exacerbate the problem. “Many social media platforms have eased or eliminated their internal content moderation policies,” Bonta explained. Though no particular company was singled out, X has faced significant scrutiny after Elon Musk’s acquisition led to layoffs, particularly within content moderation teams. This move coincided with an uptick in politically charged content on the platform.
The Role of Musk and His AI Startup
Although Elon Musk was not directly named as a recipient of Bonta’s letter, his impact on the tech landscape remains significant. His social media company X has faced accusations of allowing more right-wing content after reducing its content moderation efforts. Musk, who has endorsed Donald Trump, is also the CEO of xAI, an AI startup that has come under fire for its Grok-2 image generator. Critics have pointed to Grok-2’s tendency to depict political figures such as Trump and Kamala Harris in compromising or offensive situations.
Other AI platforms, such as OpenAI, have stricter guidelines in place to limit the generation of politically sensitive content. Nevertheless, concerns about the widespread use of AI in disseminating false or harmful information remain a top priority for regulators like Bonta.