Global Crackdown on AI Deepfakes and Misinformation Intensifies

Global Crackdown on AI Deepfakes and Misinformation Intensifies Governments around the world are launching investigations and enacting new laws to combat the surge of harmful content created by artificial intelligence (AI), with a particular focus on sexually exploitative deepfakes and election misinformation. South Korea has enacted the world's first comprehensive AI safety law, placing direct legal responsibility on developers and service providers to prevent harmful AI-generated content, including deepfake videos and misinformation [55923]. Simultaneously, the country's Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has opened a probe into Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, over allegations it can generate sexually exploitative deepfake images [58673]. The European Union (EU) has also launched a formal investigation into Grok under its Digital Services Act (DSA), examining whether the chatbot is being used to spread illegal content, including manipulated sexual images [59125]. The DSA requires large online platforms to actively manage risks and remove illegal material. The regulatory push is driven by real-world incidents where AI-generated forgeries have threatened democratic processes. In Nepal, a deepfake video falsely depicting three top political figures forming an alliance spread online ahead of national elections, sparking rumors and raising alarms about voter manipulation [57866]. In India, the government has proposed new rules requiring tech companies to identify and remove deepfakes, though experts warn of implementation challenges [12872]. A global consortium of experts, including Nobel peace prize winner Maria Ressa, has warned that a new form of AI threat—"AI bot swarms" designed to imitate humans—could be deployed at scale to sabotage the 2028 U.S. presidential election and other democratic votes worldwide [56357]. World's First AI Safety Law Enacted, Targets Deepfakes and Misinformation South Korea Probes Elon Musk's AI Chatbot Over Deepfake Porn EU Investigates Elon Musk's Grok AI for Spreading Illegal Images Fake Leaders, Real Fear: AI Deepfakes Target Nepal Election India Proposes New Rules to Combat Deepfake Threat AI Bot Swarms Could Sabotage 2028 U.S. Election, Experts Warn