Following several incidents involving manipulated videos of high-profile political figures, including Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, the leadership of the Danish Parliament has now taken the initiative to enter into a voluntary agreement on the use of artificial intelligence in political communication. This move comes as a response to the public and political unrest that has arisen following the revelations of these so-called deepfake videos. The Liberal Alliance and the Danish People’s Party, who have previously been criticized for their use of artificial intelligence to create manipulated videos, have both expressed support for such an agreement, while also emphasizing the need for clear guidelines. “We need to have an open discussion about how we use these technologies responsibly,” says Sólbjørg Jakobsen, the political spokesperson for the Liberal Alliance.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has previously described the use of manipulated videos as “an unfortunate slippery slope,” and there seems to be broad political agreement on this issue. At a meeting on May 15th, the leadership of the Danish Parliament will discuss how such a voluntary agreement can be structured, and which specific aspects of artificial intelligence should be included, including deepfakes. Peter Kofod, the group leader for the Danish People’s Party, adds: “It is important that we do not ban technology that can have legitimate and positive uses. But we need to be sharp in our definitions and ensure that we do not open the door to abuse.”
The debate surrounding artificial intelligence and politics is not new, but recent events have placed extra focus on the need for ethical guidelines and clear rules. The Danish Parliament also plans to hold an expert meeting where parties can gain further insight into the potential and risks of the technology. This development marks an important step in efforts to ensure the integrity of political communication in an era where technological manipulation is becoming increasingly sophisticated.