<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Google on Wednesday said it will mandate that political advertisements on its platforms disclose when images and audio have been altered or created using tools such as artificial intelligence (AI).</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The change to Google's ad policy is to take effect in November, about a year ahead of what is likely to be a contentious US presidential election and as fears mount that generative AI will be used to mislead voters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"For years we've provided additional levels of transparency for election ads," a Google spokesperson said in response to an AFP query.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Given the growing prevalence of tools that produce synthetic content, we're expanding our policies a step further to require advertisers to disclose when their election ads include material that's been digitally altered or generated."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In June, a Ron DeSantis campaign video attacking former US President Donald Trump featured images bearings markings of having been created using AI, an AFP Fact Check team determined.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The video shared in a tweet at X, formerly known as Twitter, contained photos that appeared altered to show Trump embracing Anthony Fauci, a key member of the US coronavirus task force, with kisses on the cheek, according to AFP Fact Check.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Google's ad policies already ban manipulating digital media to deceive or mislead people about politics, social issues, or matters of public concern.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Demonstrably false claims that could undermine participation or trust in the election process are also forbidden at Google, according to the internet giant's ad policy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Google requires political ads to disclose who paid for them, and makes information about the messages available in an online ads library.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The coming update will require election-related ads to "prominently disclose" if they contain "synthetic content" that depicts real or realistic-looking people or events, according to Google.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The tech titan said it continues to invest in technology to detect and remove such content.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Disclosures of digitally altered content in election ads must be "clear and conspicuous," and put where they are likely to be noticed, according to Google.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Examples of what would warrant a label included synthetic imagery or audio showing a person saying or doing something they did not do, or depicting an event that did not occur.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Google suggested labels such as "This image does not depict real events" or "This video content was synthetically generated." AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>