Google has recently announced its strategic initiative to restrict the responsiveness of its chatbot Bard and search generative experience to specific election-related queries, gearing up for the 2024 U.S. Presidential election. The implementation of these restrictions is slated for early 2024, aligning with Google’s heightened emphasis on comprehending the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in meeting the needs of voters and election campaigns.
Global Electoral Landscape in 2024: Google’s Commitment to Collaboration
Looking beyond the U.S., 2024 is poised to witness pivotal elections globally, including those in India, the world’s largest democracy, and South Africa. Google underscores its commitment to navigating the complexities of AI involvement in elections and expresses its dedication to close collaboration with stakeholders in the electoral process.
Concurrently, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has taken a decisive step in November, prohibiting political campaigns and advertisers in regulated industries from leveraging its newly introduced generative AI advertising products. Advertisers on Meta’s platforms will now be obligated to disclose the use of AI or other digital methods when modifying or creating political, social, or election-related advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.
In contrast, Elon Musk’s social media platform X, currently under investigation by the European Union, has altered its stance on political advertising. August saw X declaring its intention to permit political advertising in the U.S. from candidates and political parties, marking a departure from its global ban on political ads since 2019. Additionally, X is set to strengthen its safety and elections team in anticipation of the upcoming U.S. election.
Global Regulatory Landscape: Addressing AI Challenges and Misinformation
Governments worldwide are actively formulating regulations to address the challenges presented by AI, particularly in combating the dissemination of misinformation. The European Union is on the verge of implementing new rules mandating major tech firms to distinctly label political advertising on their platforms, disclose funding sources, and specify the targeted elections.
Read More (Google – Tech Foom)
