The lack of gatekeeping and outright endorsement of generated artificial intelligence (AI) is detrimental to the political landscape, as well as the internet as a whole.
Use of AI has steadily increased over the years as companies continue to invest in the technology. Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple, and Microsoft are big companies with platforms people use every day, and they incorporate AI one way or another; whether it be through tools, content filters, advertisements, or algorithmic purposes.
The higher the engagement on a social media post gets (likes, reshares, retweets, comments), the more influence it has on the algorithm, which causes similar posts to reach the same level of virality.
It is easy to stumble upon an AI generated image on Facebook and Instagram. The development of AI technology over the past few years has led to a saturation of the market. The lack of gatekeeping and outright endorsement of AI from companies like Google and Meta sets a precedent for companies to subvert actual discussions amongst real online users, thus influencing public opinion. There have already been instances where this technology has been used to formulate propaganda.
Researchers at Freedom House, a nonprofit organization funded by the U.S. State Department, documented the use of generative AI propaganda in 16 countries, according to a 2023 report.
A notable example of the use of these AI tools are the use of Kremlin bots. Kremlin bots are state-sponsored anonymous internet bots linked to the Russian government. In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice reported it disrupted a covert Russian government-sponsored foreign malign influence operation targeting audiences in the US and elsewhere.
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, and the owner of its platform and Instagram, announced an initiative in October of last year to incorporate AI on Meta owned social media platforms. Meta is currently developing a service for users to create AI bots on Facebook and Instagram, where they would be used to engage with real, online users.
This trend of AI generated content signals a future where the digital space is no longer a reflection of voices, but a carefully orchestrated show of AI-driven content designed to serve the interests of those in power.
It is important to differentiate A.I. generated posts and user generated posts to not be susceptible to propaganda. In this new world, genuine discourse is drowned out by the overwhelming noise of propaganda and where human autonomy is replaced by an algorithmic function for corporate gain.
