Launch aggressive public awareness campaigns and develop rapid response systems to deepfakes.
Equip voters, election offices, and media with repeatable guidance to spot and respond to deepfakes before debunks fall behind the spread. Combine public-facing education (like PSA-style awareness) with rapid-response protocols that help officials and journalists avoid amplifying unverified content. Treat this as a supportive track that reduces harm even when enforcement is imperfect.
Why this works
- Educating voters to be skeptical of last-minute sensational media and to rely on reputable fact-checking can reduce the impact of any deepfake that does slip through.
- For 2024 and 2026 elections, states can, for example, run PSAs: “Think Before You Click – AI deepfakes are out there.” Some states are even considering text alerts or official channels to debunk viral fakes in real-time.
- Media organizations can also agree on protocols (like not amplifying an unverified shocking video, and quickly alerting the public if a deepfake is detected).
- If the populace is on alert, the damage of deepfakes can be mitigated.
Center for Democracy & Technology
Tax-deductibleChampioning digital rights and online civil liberties
Mechanism
About EducationHow Center for Democracy & Technology uses funding
- Set objectives tied to the barriers named here: speed, trust, and the risk of “everything is fake.”
- Research audiences and identify trusted messengers for different communities.
- Develop materials and programming (explainers, PSAs, trainings) plus a rapid-response protocol.
- Deliver repeatedly across channels and time, especially near election windows.
- Evaluate and refine based on feedback, false-positive risks, and real incident lessons.
Milestones
Checkpoints and the expected timing for each step
- 1
Toolkit and protocol designed
0–30 daysGuidance and rapid-response roles are defined with partner alignment.
- 2
Public launch and stakeholder adoption
1–3 monthsMaterials go live and key stakeholders adopt handling protocols.
- 3
Rapid-response drills and iteration
3–6 monthsResponse workflows are tested, updated, and ready for real incidents.
- 4
Sustained delivery and learning
OngoingRepeated exposure and feedback improve guidance over time as conditions change.