Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued statements in support of the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) move to consider new rules on the use of AI in campaigns.
The FEC’s unanimous decision Thursday to advance an amended petition brought by the public advocacy group Public Citizen came after the Democrats sent a letter urging the commission to do so.
“The deceptive use of AI technology, like deep fakes, poses a new threat to our elections. It’s why last month, I urged the@FEC to reverse course and seek public comment on new rules. Glad to hear the Commission has heard our call. It’s a step in the right direction,” Schiff posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Luján said “safeguards are needed as AI capabilities advance.”
And Klobuchar also cheered the decision, suggesting more action may need to be taken by Congress on the topic.
“AI is increasingly being used to generate misleading content that can be used against candidates regardless of party. While today’s decision is a step forward, we need the FEC to act now,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “I plan to introduce bipartisan legislation to make the FEC’s authority to deal with this clear, whether they already have the authority or not,”
The unanimous vote moves the petition open to public comment.
Lisa Gilbert, executive vice president of Public Citizen, said the FEC’s vote to advance means there could time for a rule change in place for the 2024 election cycle.
