Brazil recently enacted a ban on deepfake technology within electoral processes. Why? Computer specialist Ana Carolina da Hora, from Rio de Janeiro’s PUC Catholic University, emphasized the risks to AFP, stating, “These video manipulations can sway public opinion, slander individuals, or disrupt the democratic process.” So, the ban reflects Brazil’s proactive stance against the potential harms of rapidly evolving AI technology, aiming to safeguard the integrity of its democratic processes.
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The country has faced challenges with political misinformation, notably with a video circulating on social media featuring ultra-realistic deepfakes of pop star Anitta and football icon Neymar promoting an online gambling scheme. Additionally, an incident involving a cloned voice recording of a mayor insulting teachers has prompted similar investigations in other states.
Key responses include:
- The Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE) banning deepfake technology in the upcoming municipal elections.
- AI uses in elections requiring a clear public notice.
- Violators facing disqualification or annulment of their elected positions.
TSE president Alexandre de Moraes described these regulations as “the most modern standards in the world” for combating misinformation and the misuse of AI, warning that deepfake technology could alter election results.
Participei da reunião do Conselho Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia e fiz um pedido aos conselheiros e conselheiras: que o Brasil possa, rapidamente, construir uma política concreta que paute a inteligência artificial. Nos últimos dias vimos como foi importante que empresários,… pic.twitter.com/7AvlVN1Qc2
— Lula (@LulaOficial) March 7, 2024
Former president Jair Bolsonaro was barred from holding office until 2030 for unfounded claims about the electoral system’s security. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in a RedeTV channel interview, remarked on the unprecedented manipulation by AI, saying, “The fact is that humanity is becoming a victim of algorithms… and being manipulated by artificial intelligence, in a way that has never been seen in history.”
Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco proposed a bill to regulate AI use across all life aspects, expected for approval in April. Bruno Bioni, director of Data Privacy Brazil, emphasized the complexity of AI regulation, affecting sectors from telecommunications to healthcare, and the discrimination risk of AI facial recognition in a racially diverse country.
