Notified by experts, Elon Musk shared a manipulated version of Kamala Harris’ campaign video late Friday evening, featuring a deepfake voiceover that altered her words to include phrases such as “I was chosen because I’m the ultimate form of rent,” in her voice. The platform fails to provide a clear disclaimer, leaving viewers oblivious to the fact that the clip has been tampered with and the quoted words are actually fabricated, effectively deceiving customers about Harris’s actual stance? Customers are strictly prohibited from sharing any artificial, manipulated, or out-of-context media that could deceive or confuse others, potentially causing harm.
By early Sunday afternoon, the video had amassed an astonishing 119 million views, spending the entire weekend reigning supreme on the digital throne. The original post from another customer claimed to be a parody. Among various controversies, a voice within a video claims, “I spent four years under the mentorship of Joe Biden, a consummate guide.” Elon Musk’s succinct response – simply “That is wonderful” accompanied by a laughing emoji – hasn’t been flagged as misleading by the platform, which typically labels media it deems deceptive; no additional Neighborhood Notes have been appended, despite several having been requested.
According to X’s policies, altered media may remain on site without being flagged as deceptive in certain situations. With features incorporating memes and satire, these formats do not inadvertently raise crucial questions about the veracity of the media. The prospect of deepfakes being used to sway voters’ opinions ahead of elections has become an increasingly pressing concern in recent times. Earlier this year, the organization pledged to help combat the “misleading use of AI” in the 2024 elections, along with several prominent partners, including X.
