Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken issued a warning on Monday about the dangerous spread of disinformation impacting democracies worldwide. He highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in fueling this malicious activity, which he believes breeds distrust, skepticism, and instability globally.
Speaking at the Summit for Democracy in Seoul organized by the Biden administration, Mr. Blinken emphasized the importance of countering authoritarian regimes like Russia and China. He noted that changes in the flow of information at the international level may be the most significant he has seen in his career, with anti-democratic forces taking advantage of these shifts.
He pointed out that nearly half of the world’s population, including countries like India, will face elections this year under the threat of manipulated information. Mr. Blinken did not specifically mention the 2020 U.S. presidential election, but he acknowledged the potential influence of foreign-directed disinformation campaigns similar to those led by Russia in 2016.
In his remarks, Mr. Blinken highlighted the importance of promoting digital and media literacy programs to help individuals discern the reliability of the content they consume. He also raised concerns about how adversaries like China use their control over media outlets to disseminate propaganda.
Furthermore, he discussed the growing threat of generative A.I. programs that can deceive even the most discerning news consumers, prompting the State Department to urge social media platforms to take action in labeling A.I.-generated content. Despite efforts by some companies like Meta to implement such measures, experts at the conference emphasized the enormity of the challenge.
The Summit for Democracy, initiated by President Biden in 2021, aims to address the growing threats to freedom and democracy both domestically and internationally. Mr. Biden has emphasized the importance of promoting civil society practices and safeguarding against political interference.
During his visit to Seoul, Mr. Blinken did not publicly address North Korea’s recent test launches of ballistic missiles, which occurred shortly after joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea. However, the State Department condemned the launches, and discussions with South Korean officials touched on North Korea’s support for Russia in its war against Ukraine and the country’s aggressive behavior.
