AI has become increasingly crucial in combating disinformation, especially as it transitions to video content on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. According to Ethan Tu, the founder of Taiwan AI Labs, there has been a surge in troll accounts spreading false information through short videos in the lead-up to Taiwan’s recent elections.
During an international panel discussion hosted by Columbia University, Tu emphasized the need for AI tools to identify and tackle these accounts effectively. He highlighted the shift towards using videos as a means of spreading misinformation, posing new challenges in the fight against disinformation.
Tu revealed that his company utilized AI to detect troll accounts that were coordinated in spreading false narratives on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, PTT, and TikTok. These accounts, which were not authentic users, strategically shared deepfake videos to influence public opinion.
By employing AI speech recognition and language understanding tools, the AI Labs founder was able to cluster the stories propagated by these troll accounts. This method helped in recognizing patterns of coordinated activity and identifying the source of misinformation.
Tu also pointed out that many troll accounts aimed to emphasize China’s military prowess, suggesting a potential link to China. Through AI analysis, it was possible to connect these accounts to narratives promoted by China’s state-affiliated media.
The panel discussion addressed the challenges of regulating disinformation on social media platforms, with specific reference to Taiwan’s approach. Instead of fact-checking or content moderation, Taiwan focuses on disclosing information manipulation to address the spread of false narratives.
With the rise of video content as a tool for spreading disinformation, the role of AI in combating such practices has become more critical than ever. As countries gear up for key elections amidst the proliferation of online misinformation, the need for robust AI tools to identify and counteract misinformation has been underscored.
