Colorado Attorney General Warns Voters About AI Deepfake Threats in Elections
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser issued a warning to voters about the increasing threat of election misinformation created using artificial intelligence (AI). The alert comes in response to the growing use of deepfakes — AI-generated voices, videos, and images designed to look or sound like real individuals.
A new law passed by the Colorado Legislature this year requires political candidates to label advertisements that feature AI-generated content. This includes any deepfakes, ensuring that voters can distinguish between authentic and computer-generated material. The law is designed to help identify AI-generated political content, but it doesn’t directly regulate its distribution.
Weiser released a public advisory aimed at educating voters on how to spot AI-generated content. He urged citizens to verify political communications through trusted sources and to check for any AI-related disclosures. Weiser warned that “bad actors” might still attempt to manipulate public opinion using deepfakes that may not be covered by the law.
“With AI technology becoming increasingly sophisticated, it’s harder to tell what’s real and what’s not,” Weiser said. “Even AI-powered detection tools can struggle to identify deepfakes. I encourage voters to do thorough research and rely on trusted sources for information.”
The law applies to political communications made within 60 days of a primary election or 90 days of a general election, covering both state and federal candidates. Voters can file complaints regarding undisclosed deepfakes with the secretary of state’s office, which would then be reviewed in an administrative hearing.
As of now, neither the attorney general’s office nor the secretary of state’s office has received any complaints related to violations of the new law.
