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Internet Access For All
Internet access has become crucial for participating in our Democracy. Yet the digital divide prevents over 4 million Americans from accessing internet connection.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence has the potential to super-charge election disinformation and other anti-voter tactics. We need a bold reform agenda to fight back. Common Cause is committed to pushing for AI transparency and accountability to support our democracy.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), deepfakes, and other emerging technologies pose a serious threat to our democracy and our elections that many policymakers simply are not prepared to address. In a few clicks, bad actors can create deceptive content about candidates or impersonate election officials—then spread those lies like wildfire. We need transparency and accountability from social media platforms, news organizations, and Artificial Intelligence companies themselves to make sure our democracy does not fall victim to a deluge of AI-powered disinformation.
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Related Resources
Guide
Media Literacy Skill: Lateral Searching
"What do I do if my loved ones do not trust verified sources of information?" is the #1 most asked question among trusted messengers navigating conversations about media literacy.
Lateral reading or lateral searching is a strategy that helps us to determine for ourselves who is a credible source of information.
Lateral reading or lateral searching is a strategy that helps us to determine for ourselves who is a credible source of information.
Press
Press Release
FCC Urged to Amend Regulation to Account for False AI Content
Today, Common Cause, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry, and a number of other concerned organizations, filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in a rulemaking urging the agency to address disclosure and transparency of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content in political advertisements on the nation’s airwaves. The groups warn of the dangers posed by the new technology in an era when political disinformation is widespread and the public has...
News Clip
Colorado Politics: ‘Deepfakes’ and AI content: Colorado lawmakers dive into new tech ahead of November elections
Aly Belknap with Colorado Common Cause echoed Holman’s concerns, highlighting the pervasiveness of deepfakes and other avenues for spreading “disinformation,” such as fake social media profiles. These issues, she said, combined with declining trust in the media among Americans, pose a threat to the future of fair elections.
“The availability of generative AI tools makes it easier than ever to spread false information and propaganda with little resources and at a large scale, leaving voters confused and further...
“The availability of generative AI tools makes it easier than ever to spread false information and propaganda with little resources and at a large scale, leaving voters confused and further...
News Clip
Yahoo! News/USA Today: As the cradle of tech, California looks to be leader in AI regulation
Jonathan Mehta Stein is a co-founder of The California Initiative for Technology and Democracy, a project of good government group California Common Cause, which has been advising legislators on the threats emerging technologies pose to democracy. He points to the growing use of AI in elections across the world as evidence it's no longer a theoretical, but an active practice. In the first month of 2024, deepfakes promulgating misinformation in Bangladeshi and Slovakian elections proved to be significant election disruptions. Here in the United...
