Former President Donald Trump has been active on social media platforms while Democrats convene in Chicago for their convention. Some of his recent posts have featured manipulated images and videos that stray from reality. One of these posts included a fabricated image of someone resembling Vice President Kamala Harris speaking at a supposed communist rally in Chicago. This was accompanied by a red banner sporting a communist symbol. Another post shared a fake video of Trump dancing alongside billionaire Elon Musk, a prominent supporter of the former president.
Leading up to the Democratic National Convention, Trump also re-shared an image of Taylor Swift donning an Uncle Sam costume, suggesting she endorsed his campaign, despite no such endorsement ever being made by the singer. These instances highlight Trump’s tendency to use artificial intelligence-created content to attack opponents or generate false impressions of support for his campaign.
While some of the posts shared by Trump are clearly fake or cartoonish, the increased prevalence of AI-generated content raises concerns among experts. They warn that such content could be utilized to disseminate more convincing and harmful misinformation, potentially undermining people’s trust in the information they encounter on social media platforms.
The spread of AI-generated disinformation has prompted calls for legislation to regulate its use in political contexts. However, no significant measures have been enacted thus far. Various social media companies have rules regarding the labeling of AI-generated content, but enforcement is inconsistent. In the case of political figures like Trump and Harris, fabricated images often attract millions of views, with some viewers being misled by the content’s realism.
Taylor Swift, a figure with significant influence, has become a recurring subject in political discussions during election years. In the 2020 election, she publicly supported President Joe Biden and expressed criticism of Trump. Despite not endorsing any candidates so far in the current election cycle, Swift continues to be a topic of interest for both supporters and critics. Trump’s campaign has capitalized on the attention stirred by his posts featuring fake images, claiming support from individuals expressing intent to vote for him.
While responses from Trump’s spokesperson did not directly address the use of manipulated images, they emphasized the emergence of a group called “Swifties for Trump” as a growing movement. This development underscores the impact of AI-generated content on social and political discourse, necessitating a closer examination of its implications for elections and democracy.
