White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's labeling of genuine Biden videos as "deepfakes" has raised concerns about eroding public trust and undermining efforts to combat actual deepfake technology.
In an era marked by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital manipulation, the term "deepfake" has gained significant traction. Deepfakes are highly realistic yet false depictions created using AI, posing profound challenges for both technology and society. While these tools can be used for educational, creative, and even mental health support purposes, their misuse can lead to misinformation, fraud, and abuse.
However, the incorrect use of the term "deepfake" itself can also have detrimental consequences, as illustrated by President Biden's press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre. Jean-Pierre's recent labeling of a series of authentic, viral videos of Biden as "deepfakes" has sparked a wave of criticism. This move highlights a critical issue: real, genuine footage does not constitute a deepfake, and the White House's attempt to discredit these videos using this term was a sloppy mischaracterization.
Karine Jean-Pierre's Misuse of the Term "Deepfake" Undermines Trust
Such misrepresentations can erode public trust and undermine the government's efforts to combat actual deepfake technology. As Fox News contributor Guy Benson pointed out, while the videos of Biden may be unflattering or taken out of context, labeling them as deepfakes is misleading and amounts to misinformation.
Defining deepfakes can be challenging, but they generally involve AI-altered images or recordings that deceptively misrepresent someone doing or saying something that was not actually done or said. However, deepfakes are certainly not authentic videos that portray a politician negatively.
Karine Jean-Pierre's Misuse of the Term "Deepfake" Undermines Trust
The White House's labeling of genuine videos as deepfakes is a risky tactic that may backfire by fostering cynicism and distrust among the public. When officials mislabel real footage as manipulated, it may appear as though they are attempting to obscure or deflect from legitimate issues.
As Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and other critics have noted, transparency and honesty are vital for maintaining public trust, especially in an era where such trust is at a low point. Moreover, the mischaracterization of real videos as deepfakes undermines the serious efforts being made to address the genuine dangers posed by true deepfakes. For instance, deepfakes have been used to create misleading political content, impersonate individuals for financial scams, and even produce non-consensual explicit material.
Karine Jean-Pierre's Misuse of the Term "Deepfake" Undermines Trust
Addressing these threats necessitates precise definitions and targeted legislative action, not the dilution of the term to protect political interests. Unfortunately, mislabeling authentic content as fake is not a new practice among Democrats. We witnessed this with the Hunter Biden laptop story, initially dismissed as Russian disinformation but later verified. This recurring pattern of labeling inconvenient truths as "fake" erodes public trust. The recent examples of government pressure on social media platforms to block content, as seen in the Twitter Files revelations, further illustrate the dangers of such tactics.
When the government intimidates online services to silence specific narratives, it infringes on free expression and the public's ability to make informed decisions. This complexity is compounded by pending AI legislation in Congress and Biden's broad executive order on AI, which threaten to overregulate this emerging field. Biden's executive order risks stifling innovation through heavy-handed regulations. It is critical that any new legislation strikes a balance between the need for oversight and the importance of fostering innovation.
Karine Jean-Pierre's Misuse of the Term "Deepfake" Undermines Trust
Fortunately, existing laws provide a solid foundation for addressing AI-related harms. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can safeguard consumer welfare by enforcing laws against unfair and deceptive practices, including those involving AI and digital manipulation. Laws against fraud, harassment, and election interference also apply to malicious uses of deepfake technology. However, there are areas where legal updates are necessary. For example, the Stop Deepfake CSAM Act would clarify that AI-manipulated sexual images exploiting real minors are illegal under existing federal child pornography statutes. The Stop Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Deepfake Media Act additionally would protect Americans from having their likenesses used in fabricated sexual content without consent.
Public officials should refrain from carelessly using the term "deepfake" to distract the public and undermine critical legislative efforts. It is essential that policymakers maintain clear and precise language when discussing digital manipulation technologies to ensure that our policies effectively address the real threats without stifling innovation.
Karine Jean-Pierre's Misuse of the Term "Deepfake" Undermines Trust
