# AI in Elections and Democracy

Generative AI has become a force in elections, political messaging, and democratic trust. This sub-article expands [Section 5 of Recent Topics](../recent.md) and [Culture & Communication](culture-communication.md).

## Deepfakes and Disinformation
- AI-generated images, audio, and video are used to impersonate candidates and fabricate events.
- **Deepfakes** can spread faster than fact-checking.

## Political Ads and Campaigns
- Campaigns use AI for personalized messaging and micro-targeting.
- Some jurisdictions require **disclosure** of AI-generated political content.
- "Astroturf" and fake grassroots campaigns are risks.

## Democratic Trust
- Widespread synthetic content can erode belief in evidence and institutions.
- Provenance tools (C2PA, watermarks) and labeling are proposed.

## Policy Responses
- States and platforms have announced deepfake bans, labeling rules, and detection efforts.
- Enforcement is difficult across borders and platforms.

## Why It Matters
Elections depend on shared facts and informed choice; AI can both help (accessibility, translation) and undermine them.

## Sources
- Center for AI Safety & Digital Integrity. *Election deepfake reports* (2024).
- European Commission. *AI Act transparency rules.*

*Back to [Recent Topics](../recent.md).*