SINGAPORE: Since Singapore’s May 3 polls were called, there has been a surge in the number of General Election-related online videos created using artificial intelligence ( AI ) tools.
CNA detected 73 for video posted between Apr 15 and Apr 19. This was more than the 64 like videos in an entire quarter from Mar 14 to Apr 14. All the videos were posted on TikTok.
Apr 15 was when the Writ of Election was issued.
The uptick in such films comes in spite of a new law banning online generated or controlled material that misrepresents what candidates say or do, regardless of whether it is advantageous or unpleasant to them.
GE2025 is the first moment the policy is in position. From Apr 15 to Nomination Day on Apr 23, the moratorium covers potential applicants who have paid their vote payments and given the Elections Department assent to make their nomination people.
After election proceedings nearer, the ban will include all candidates through the majority of the vote period.
Out of the 73 AI-generated, GE-related video posted since Apr 15, CNA found that 11 contain online generated or manipulated photos of potential candidates, possibly violating this new law.
The amount grows to 27 if the depend includes movies that contain true footage of potential candidates, but along with Iot elements like avatars and text-to-speech voiceovers.
Under the rules, preventative information can be issued to people, requiring them to get down the information; or to cultural media companies asking them to delete exposure.
Failure to comply can lead to prison or a good.
As of Monday ( Apr 21 ), no corrective directions against deepfakes misrepresenting candidates have been issued.
The Ministry of Digital Development and Information ( MDDI) told CNA the public will be notified if there are any issued.
The government said it was ” carefully monitoring Singapore’s virtual area during the General Election”.
” There are processes in place to check for and minimise the risk of election meddling that may arise from the spread of prohibited information, such as deepfakes misrepresenting individuals,” it said.
” There are dedicated team standing up during the vote time for this purpose, and they will work closely with social media companies to act quickly on prohibited information. “
MDDI also said candidates and members of the public should remain “alert and discerning consumers of information”.
The ministry did not answer CNA’s questions on what and how many reports of AI-generated content it has received, investigations it is conducting and enforcement actions taken.