Midjourney, an AI tool that can create modified images and videos, may ban images of high-profile politicians such as Joe Biden and Donald Trump during this election season. The rise of AI tools has made it easier than ever to spread political misinformation through fake images, posing a threat to the upcoming US presidential election. To combat this, Midjourney’s CEO, David Holz, reportedly mentioned in a chat session on Discord that the company is considering implementing a ban on political images within the next year.
Holz acknowledged the temptation to create modified images of Trump, given his aesthetic appeal, but advised users to exercise caution during this election period. While Midjourney has existing rules in place to prohibit the creation of misleading public figures and events portrayals, Bloomberg was still able to generate modified images of Trump using the older version of the AI system. However, the newer version refused to produce modified images of the former President.
Banning political images on Midjourney would primarily serve to protect the platform from drawing criticism and becoming a focal point during the election season. However, it’s important to recognize that such a ban would not entirely prevent the use of AI tools in political disinformation campaigns or the spread of fake information aimed at manipulating elections as a whole.
Tech companies are taking steps to combat political disinformation and improve identification capabilities. For instance, ChatGPT plans to tag images created with DALL-E 3, and Meta is developing technology to detect and signify AI-generated images, videos, and audio clips.
It is crucial to address the potential misuse of AI tools, particularly during sensitive periods like elections. While banning political images on Midjourney might mitigate some risks, it remains essential for individuals and platforms to stay vigilant against political disinformation campaigns and false information. The fight against misinformation requires a multi-faceted approach, combining the efforts of technology companies, policymakers, and the public. By continuing to develop strategies and technologies to detect and counter AI-generated content, we can strive for a more transparent and informed political landscape.
