South Korea‘s communications regulators are prepping measures to prevent artificial intelligence (AI) from deceiving the public ahead of an upcoming general election on April 10th, 2024.

The Korea Communications Commission submitted a report outlining its plans for 2024 to President Yoon Suk Yeol that focused on mitigating the adverse effects of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms. The authority’s focus stems from the increasing prevalence of AI-related issues worldwide, including deepfake technology and the ensuing challenges.

Deepfake, a portmanteau of ‘deep learning’ and ‘fake,’ uses AI to synthesize human images, leading to the creation and dissemination of manipulated content. The technology has been a cause for concern as it leads to the proliferation of deceptive information, such as a falsified phone call urging a boycott of the Republican primary election, purportedly from U.S. President Joe Biden, and a deepfake pornographic image of U.S. celebrity Taylor Swift that was viewed by millions in just hours.

Many countries are rushing to implement measures against deepfake misuse. The United States, for instance, issued an executive order mandating watermarks on AI-generated content, while the European Union requires separate labeling for manipulated content resembling real individuals.

As part of its effort to keep up with the global movement, the Korea Communications Commission announced a set of initiatives that mandate the labeling of AI-generated content and establish a reporting mechanism for AI-related damages. The policy set contains comprehensive strategies aimed at combating false and manipulated information across all stages of creation and dissemination.

Major global tech companies are also taking proactive steps, with leading AI services providers signing the AI Elections Accord. Twenty-three tech firms, including OpenAI, Microsoft Corp, and Meta Platforms, Inc., joined the alliance aimed at combating deepfakes.

While welcoming the regulatory move, industry insiders also call for policies that meet platforms‘ needs to prevent excessive restrictions on the industry ecosystem.

By Kim Dae-gi and Han Yubin

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