Over the course of the last 18 months, more than two billion people around the world have had the opportunity to vote in national elections. But the integrity of this greater democratic process faces unprecedented challenges. At Microsoft, we are committed to protecting the polls and supporting political parties and campaigns with robust cybersecurity resources.
Microsoft’s Election Protection Commitments
In alignment with our broader election protection commitments, we are taking concrete steps to protect elections globally. Here in the Philippines, we’ve equipped the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) with Microsoft AccountGuard. This follows through on commitments made during the US Presidential Trade Mission last year, and builds upon previous initiatives with media organizations such as CNN to promote accurate information and debunk misinformation is another crucial aspect of our strategy.
Our initiatives include providing cybersecurity resources tailored for political parties and campaigns, ensuring they are equipped to defend against cyber threats.
AI and Deepfake Threats
In the Philippines, foreign nation-state influence actors and troll farms are attempting to shape voter perceptions about political candidates and South China Sea maritime territorial disputes. These influence actors are producing AI-generated video, image, and text content to enhance their campaigns, which has prompted Philippine legislators to enact regulations and create a National Deepfake Task Force. Â
As AI technology advances, so does the sophistication of deepfakes—manipulated media that can convincingly alter appearances and voices. This poses significant risks to the democratic process, from disseminating misleading information to undermining trust in the electoral system. In response, we have developed a comprehensive approach to combat these threats, leveraging our expertise and resources to uphold election integrity.
Combating Deepfakes
Deepfakes present a unique challenge that requires a multi-faceted strategy. Drawing inspiration from our work in Canada, we are implementing best practices to combat deepfakes and ensure that voters have access to reliable information. We utilize advanced AI tools to detect and mitigate deepfake content, collaborate with experts and policymakers to develop standards and regulations that address the misuse of AI, and empower citizens with the knowledge to identify and report suspicious media. Our goal is to create a resilient electoral environment where technology is a force for good, supporting transparency and accountability.
Comprehensive Approaches to Election Integrity
To combat the rising threat of deepfakes and AI in elections, we provide extensive training sessions to political parties. These sessions explain what deepfakes are, demonstrate the difficulty in identifying them, and offer tools for protection. Our Democracy Forward initiative aims to preserve, protect, and advance democracy by combating the deceptive use of AI. This involves promoting a healthy information ecosystem, open and secure democratic processes, and corporate civic responsibility.
Key Strategies and Tools
To safeguard democratic institutions, we offer various tools and services including indexed media repositories, Defender for Office 365, and secure content management for credentialing. Our AccountGuard service adds an extra layer of protection for high-risk organizations, while our Deepfake Reporting Tool exists to address deceptive AI-generated media on any Microsoft platform or service that may affect electoral campaigns.
Global Collaboration and Support
Our efforts are global. We engage with election officials, news outlets, candidates, campaigns, and political parties, regardless of political affiliation to manage and counteract misinformation. Our Election Communications Hub platform enables election administration officials and political parties to share pressing security concerns with us, ensuring a coordinated approach to election security.
As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, protecting the integrity of our elections is more important than ever. At Microsoft, we are dedicated to leading the charge in this endeavor, using our innovative solutions and collaborative spirit to ensure that democracy thrives. Alongside citizens and in partnership with civil society, government, and private sector stakeholders, we can build a future where every vote counts, and every voice is heard.
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