The UK Electoral Commission is launching a pilot project to detect AI-generated deepfakes ahead of upcoming elections in Scotland and Wales. The initiative aims to protect candidates from misinformation and targeted harassment by identifying hoax videos and images before they can spread during the campaign. Upon detection, officials plan to alert the police, notify the affected candidates, and inform the public while urging social media platforms to remove the fraudulent content. The Commission is seeking legally enforceable “takedown” powers from the UK government to ensure social media companies are required to remove malicious AI-generated material.
Date: January 8, 2026. Source: theguardian.com