1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern and outrage over the recent use of AI-generated deepfake videos in political advertising, particularly the attack ad released by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) featuring a synthetic video of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. This alarming trend threatens the integrity of our political discourse and the foundations of our democracy. The NRSC's decision to create an artificial video of Senator Schumer, despite having access to his actual words from a Punchbowl News interview, sets a dangerous precedent. While the ad includes a small disclaimer, the use of such technology can easily mislead voters and blur the lines between fact and fiction. This is not an isolated incident; we've seen similar tactics employed by other political entities, including Donald Trump's post on Truth Social and the Republican National Committee's AI-generated attack ad. The justification provided by the NRSC's communications director, Joanna Rodriguez, that "AI is here and not going anywhere" is insufficient and irresponsible. It is our duty to ensure that technological advancements are used ethically, especially in the realm of political campaigning where informed decision-making is crucial for our democracy. I urge you to take immediate action to address this issue. We need clear regulations and guidelines on the use of AI and deepfake technology in political advertising. These should include: 1. Mandatory, prominent disclaimers on all AI-generated content used in political campaigns. 2. Restrictions on the use of deepfakes that could reasonably be mistaken for authentic footage. 3. Penalties for campaigns that use AI to spread misinformation or manipulate voters. The integrity of our electoral process is at stake. As my representative, I ask you to lead the charge in protecting our democracy from the potential abuses of AI technology in political campaigning. Please introduce or support legislation that addresses these concerns and ensures that our political discourse remains grounded in truth and transparency. The time to act is now, before the 2024 elections are upon us and these deceptive practices become even more widespread. Our democracy depends on voters having access to accurate information, not manipulated content designed to mislead and inflame. I look forward to hearing about the steps you will take to combat this serious threat to our political process.