New York Attorney General Calls on Big Tech to Combat Election Misinformation

New York Attorney General Letitia James has reached out to major tech companies, including Meta, Google, and OpenAI, urging them to take significant measures to protect users from election-related misinformation. In a letter obtained by ABC News, James highlighted the growing threat posed by generative AI, which has made it easier for bad actors to create deceptive content. She requested in-person meetings with these companies to discuss their strategies for safeguarding voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The letter comes amid rising concerns over the impact of AI-generated misinformation, particularly following incidents where altered videos, such as one featuring Vice President Kamala Harris, have circulated widely on social media. James emphasized that the tools developed by these companies have become increasingly accessible and prone to misuse, complicating the public's ability to discern fact from fiction. In addition to James' efforts, secretaries of state from several states have also expressed concerns, urging platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to direct users to reliable voting information. A recent study revealed that AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, provided incorrect answers to election-related queries 30% of the time, prompting companies to implement moderation layers to filter out misleading content. While the letter did not specify penalties for non-compliance, it implied potential enforcement actions. James is seeking written responses from the companies regarding their policies and practices, as well as a meeting to discuss their commitment to combating misinformation in the electoral process.