Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly advancing, and its widespread deployment raises important questions about regulation and oversight and the role of this technology in our democracy. As AI technology becomes more integrated into the media and politics, there is a growing need to address the potential risks and challenges associated with its use to our democracy. One key question that often emerges is whether AI regulation should be negotiated at an international level or if a patchwork of different national rules will be enough?
In 2021, 193 countries adopted the UN’s first-ever global agreement on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. It sets the first global framework but gives individual States the responsibility to apply it at their level which many feel is not going far enough. A group of EU lawmakers working on AI legislation recently called on President. Biden to convene a global summit to find further ways to control the development of advanced AI systems.
Fastforward to the present and the first U.N. Security Council meeting on AI’s threats to global peace took place on Tuesday July 19th. Jack Clark, who left Open AI to co-found Anthropic, said the world must come together to prevent the technology’s misuse. Clark warned of “potential threats to international peace, security and global stability” from two essential qualities of AI systems – their potential for misuse and their unpredictability “as well as the inherent fragility of them being developed by such a narrow set of actors.”
Why Might We Need Global Regulation?
Preventing manipulation of US democracy without strong globally negotiated and agreed laws on AI at an international level is challenging due to several key reasons:
1. Transnational Nature of Threats
Manipulation of democracy through AI-powered disinformation campaigns, social media manipulation, and election interference can originate from actors and entities outside of a specific country's jurisdiction. The global interconnectedness of the internet makes it difficult to address these threats solely through national regulations. International collaboration and agreements are necessary to effectively combat cross-border AI-driven manipulation.
2. National Jurisdiction Challenges
Existing regulations and laws primarily focus on national jurisdictions, making it difficult to hold perpetrators accountable in cases of AI-driven democracy manipulation. Perpetrators can exploit regulatory loopholes, operate from countries with lax regulations, or use proxy networks to hide their identities and locations. International cooperation and harmonized regulations are essential to close these loopholes and ensure a coordinated response to such threats.
3. Rapid Technological Advancements
The pace of technological advancements in AI is rapid, and new techniques for manipulation and disinformation constantly emerge. National regulations alone may struggle to keep up with the evolving tactics used by malicious actors. International collaboration can facilitate the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and intelligence to stay ahead of these threats.
4. Shared Responsibility
The manipulation of democratic processes affects not only individual countries but also the overall stability and integrity of the global democratic order. As democracies become more interconnected, protecting democracy becomes a shared responsibility that necessitates international cooperation. Collaborative efforts can strengthen collective defenses against AI-driven manipulation and ensure the resilience of democratic systems worldwide.
5. Balancing Innovation and Security
One problem is that many political figures are concerned about imposing strict regulations on AI in the US as they believe it will let other countries without these laws race ahead in innovation and technology. This is why many favor negotiating clear global AI regulations that can help strike the right balance between promoting innovation and ensuring the security and integrity of democratic processes. A coordinated approach can establish minimum standards for AI technologies, including transparency, fairness, and safeguards against manipulation.
6. Enhancing Public Trust
Global regulations on AI can help build public trust by ensuring that democratic processes are safeguarded against manipulation. A lack of international regulations may lead to public skepticism and distrust in the democratic process. Establishing clear rules and oversight mechanisms at the international level can enhance public confidence and protect the integrity of democratic systems.
What Do Prominent Figures Think?
Many public figures in the US have shared their perspectives on global AI regulation. For instance, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also called for proactive global AI regulation to prevent unintended consequences. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for global rules to harness the potential of AI.
President Trump’s Executive Order on AI back in 2019 called on agencies to “promote an international environment that supports American AI research and innovation.” However, in 2020 the Trump administration also stated that if the U.S. and its allies have heavy regulatory power over artificial intelligence, “it could potentially stifle innovation and allow competitors, like China, to catch up.”
Meanwhile, Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr had this to say on the dangers of AI and the need for global regulation in a recent interview with Lex Fridman which its worth quoting in full:
“I know you know a lot about AI, and you know how dangerous it is, potentially to humanity, and what opportunities it also offers, but it could kill us all. I mean, Elon said, first it’s going to steal our job, then it’s going to kill us. Right? And it’s probably not a hyperbole… It’s going to happen, but we need to make sure it’s regulated, and it’s regulated properly for safety, in every country. And that includes Russia and China and Iran. Right now, we should be putting all the weapons of war aside and sitting down with those guys and say, how are we going to do this? There’s much more important things to do. This stuff is going to kill us, if we don’t figure out how to regulate it. And leadership needs to look down the road at what is the real risk here… And we need to sit down with each other and negotiate reasonable treaties on how we regulate AI and biological weapons. And nobody’s talking about this in this political race right now.”
Avatar and Titanic Director James Cameron has also spoken out on AI dangers recently:
"I think the weaponization of AI is the biggest danger, I think that we will get into the equivalent of a nuclear arms race with AI, and if we don't build it, the other guys are for sure going to build it, and so then it'll escalate."
By considering these various viewpoints, we can gain insights into the importance of international cooperation in AI regulation.
Conclusion
Preventing the manipulation of US democracy without globally negotiated and agreed laws on AI at an international level will be challenging due to the transnational nature of threats, and the geopolitical and trade wars going on right now. It is highly likely international collaboration and agreements are crucial to address these challenges and protect democratic processes from AI-driven manipulation on a global scale. So what should these global laws look like?
What do you think?
Is AI a Threat to Democracy?
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