Despite fears that generative AI could affect major global elections this year, Meta Platforms said its impact on the company's apps, such as Facebook and Instagram, has been limited.
According to Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, most coordinated networks of accounts that aim to spread propaganda or misinformation have not developed a large following or have not been effective in using AI. He added that the amount of AI-generated misinformation was low and Meta quickly identified and removed it.
The report from Meta echoes the view of misinformation experts, who say AI content has yet to significantly influence public opinion. Even well-known deepfake videos and audio, such as that of President Joe Biden's voice, were quickly proven fake.
Clegg also said that coordinated disinformation networks are moving to other social media platforms and messaging apps that have fewer safety guardrails, or creating their own websites to stay online. He added that Meta has removed approximately 20 covert influence operations from their platform this year.
Clegg also admitted that Meta was too strict with their content moderation during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing some content to be mistakenly removed.
"We think we've gone a bit overboard," said Clegg. “While we are committed to reducing false content, we also want to improve the accuracy and precision of our enforcement of policies.”
Several Republican lawmakers have questioned the alleged censorship of some views on social media. In an August letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he regrets some of the content removals the company made due to pressure from President Biden's administration.
According to Clegg, Zuckerberg wants to be active in shaping technology policy under President Donald Trump's administration, including on AI matters.
"Mark is very interested in participating in the debates that any administration needs to have about maintaining America's leadership in the technological field, especially the important role that AI will play," he added.
