FREEDOM ON THE NET 2023 The Repressive Power of Artificial Intelligence HARNESSING AI TO AUGMENT DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS Harnessing AI to Augment Disinformation Campaigns Governments have long employed human commentators—whether state officials, hired contractors, or party loyalists—to Governments have long employed human commentators—whether state officials, hired contractors, or party loyalists—to covertlycovertly manipulate information online. Generative AI technology toenhance enhancesuch such distortion campaigns. manipulate information online. Generative AI technologyisisslowly slowlybeginning beginning to distortion campaigns. FRANCE KYRGYZSTAN An AI-manipulated image of an elderly man being beaten by police circulated online during widespread protests in March 2023, often alongside comments disparaging President Emmanuel Macron. Political parties hired bloggers and high schoolers to post propaganda on social media, with one group reportedly paying $350,000 for an AI-generated bot network that created 150 fake profiles per day. BRAZIL MYANMAR Ahead of a presidential run-off election in October 2022, a deepfake video that spread online falsely depicted a trusted news outlet reporting that then president Jair Bolsonaro led in polling. 47 ANGOLA The company Mind Force operated a network of accounts that posted in support of the ruling party. A Mind Force employee publicly disclosed that the government was a client. countries in which progovernment commentators manipulate online discussions 16 The military operated a robust disinformation apparatus, ordering thousands of soldiers to amplify pro-junta messages and harass critics across social media. countries in which AI-based tools that can generate images, text, or audio were used to distort information on political or social issues This infographic is from the Freedom on the Net 2023 report, as seen on www.freedomhouse.org. Creating deepfakes to sow doubt, discredit opponents, and manufacture public support The growing use of generative AI is likely to compound the impact that these existing networks of progovernment commentators have on information integrity and healthy public debate. During the coverage period, AI-based tools that can generate images, text, or audio were utilized in at least 16 countries to distort information on political or social issues. It takes time for governments and the private actors they employ to incorporate new technology into content manipulation, and the early dominance of English-language tools may slow adoption of generative AI technology globally. But this tally of countries is also likely 10 @freedomonthenet an undercount. Researchers, journalists, and fact-checkers have difficulty verifying whether content is generated by AI, in part because many of the companies involved do not require labeling. Similar obstacles can impede attribution of AI-backed manipulation to a specific creator. Electoral periods and moments of political crisis served as flashpoints for AI-generated content. In May 2023, amid an escalating political conflict in Pakistan between former prime minister Imran Khan and the military-backed establishment, Khan shared an AI-generated video to depict a woman fearlessly facing riot police. In doing so, he sought to boost a narrative that the women of Pakistan stood by him, not the country’s immensely powerful military. During the February 2023 Nigerian elections, an AI-manipulated #FreedomOnTheNet