High Scores for Washington on Common Cause’s 2024 Democracy Scorecard
Washington — Common Cause, the nonpartisan watchdog, released its 2024 “Democracy Scorecard," recording every member of Congress’ support for voting rights, Supreme Court ethics, and other reforms.
Common Dreams: FCC Announces New Rule to Confront Deepfake Robocalls
Ishan Mehta, media and democracy program director for Common Cause, said the calls in New Hampshire last month represented "only the tip of the iceberg" and warned that "it is critically important that the FCC now use this authority to fine violators and block the telephone companies that carry the calls."
Mehta called on Congress to pass the Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act, which would prohibit the distribution ofdeceptive AI-generated audio, images, or video relating to federal candidates in political ads.
오늘, 연방통신위원회(FCC)는 인공 지능(AI) 음성 복제 도구를 사용하는 로보콜을 불법화하기로 만장일치로 투표했습니다. 오랫동안 우려의 대상이었던 이 문제는 뉴햄프셔 예비선거를 앞두고 로보콜에서 바이든 대통령의 목소리를 흉내내는 데 이 기술이 사용되면서 전국적인 헤드라인을 장식했습니다. 현재 뉴햄프셔 법무장관실에서 해당 통화를 조사하고 있습니다. FCC 금지령은 즉시 발효됩니다.
우리 나라에는 법 위에 있는 사람은 없습니다. 전직 대통령도 마찬가지입니다. 오늘 대법원에서 도널드 트럼프의 변호사가 그의 의뢰인이 반란을 조장하지 않았다고 주장하려는 노력을 하지 않았다는 것은 의미심장합니다. 그는 도널드 트럼프가 1월 6일에 무장한 무장 세력에게 의사당으로 가서 2020년 대선 인증을 방해하기 위해 "지옥처럼 싸우라"고 지시했다는 것을 반박하지 않았습니다. 이는 국민의 의지를 거부하고 선거를 훔치려는 그의 시도의 일환입니다.
PolitiFact/Austin American-Statesman: Elon Musk wrong to say Joe Biden is recruiting immigrants to create a Democratic majority
It’s easy to discount such "conspiracy theory nonsense" from random trolls on X, but it’s powerful when it comes from Musk, who owns the platform, said Anthony Gutierrez, executive director of Common Cause Texas, a group that advocates for voting rights.
Democracies require participation, and falsehoods "only increase the likelihood that people will lose faith in our elections and simply opt out," Gutierrez said.
USA Today: Hawaii looks to combat AI-generated deepfakes and disinformation ahead of 2024 elections
The legislation has also received support from non-profit pro-democracy groups such as Public Citizen and Common Cause Hawaii. Camron Hurt, program manager for Common Cause Hawaii, called the threat of AI deepfakes “a big issue for democracy right now.”
“The cat’s out of the bag, technology has outpaced our laws. But now we must catch up and it’s important that we spearhead and that we help lead that charge and make sure that harmful AI deep fakes and alike are removed from any way of being in our elections," Hurt said.
The Guardian: US supreme court to hear arguments on keeping Trump off 2024 ballot
“Our democracy is not a chaotic free-for-all in which anyone can be elected. The voters are entitled to decide within the framework of the applicable rules,” the good government group Common Cause wrote in an amicus brief supporting the challengers.
“If Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment (“Section 3”) is not enforced in this case, there is a genuine risk that our system of government will not survive,” they wrote.
Democracy Docket: How Should SCOTUS Apply Section 3 of the 14th Amendment? Amicus Briefs in Trump’s Disqualification Case Have Different Answers
Common Cause reminds the Court that the Constitution possesses checks and balances for the very expressed purpose of preserving constitutional order. Their brief highlights many restrictions on who voters can select including restrictions on age and term limits. They aver that elections must follow the rules laid in the Constitution and the Court must not shy away from public pressure to ignore their duty to the Constitution. The Framers of the Constitution recognized that protecting democracy would require “uncommon portion of fortitude”...
Albuquerque Journal (Op-Ed): NM needs a modern Legislature to cope with modern challenges
For the past four years, Common Cause New Mexico, and several community groups, have been exploring the possibility of upgrading New Mexico’s legislative branch to meet today’s challenges with adequate staff, longer sessions and salaries for our unpaid legislators.
Syracuse Post-Standard: Republicans push Onondaga County to sue NY over change to election schedule
"Moving local elections to even years will boost turnout, reduce voter fatigue, and minimize stressors on the local boards of elections,'' said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York.
