Support Democracy
AI should strengthen democracy, never undermine it.
Election day. You have been reading articles, watching debates, forming your opinion. But what if half of what you read was generated by AI — designed not to inform you, but to push you toward a specific candidate? What if AI-powered bots drowned out real voters in online discussions? Your vote is still yours, but the information shaping it might not be.
What This Means
Democracy only works when people can make informed decisions based on truthful information. This policy says AI must never be used to manipulate elections, suppress voter turnout, spread political disinformation, or drown out genuine public debate with fake voices. AI should help people participate in democracy — making it easier to understand issues, access voting information, and engage with their representatives.
A Real-World Scenario
During a local election, thousands of AI-generated social media profiles flooded community forums with posts supporting one candidate. They looked like real neighbors — they used local slang, referenced local events, and even had profile pictures of people who did not exist. Real community members found their voices drowned out. The manipulation was only discovered after the election, when researchers traced the accounts back to a single political consultant using AI tools.
Why It Matters to You
Because your right to a fair election and honest public debate is the foundation of every other right you have. If AI can secretly manipulate what you believe and how you vote, democracy becomes a performance — and someone else is writing the script.
For the technically inclined
AP-4.1: Democratic Process Support
AI systems should support, not undermine, democratic processes. This includes elections, public discourse, civic participation, and the integrity of information ecosystems.
What You Can Do
Be skeptical of political content online, especially during elections. Support platforms that label AI-generated content. Demand that your government establish clear rules against using AI for election manipulation. Talk to people in person — real conversations are harder to fake.