Google has announced updates to its advertising policies that require advertisers to disclose election ads that use digitally altered content to depict real or real people or events. This policy applies to image, video and audio content.
The updated political content policy disclosure requirements require advertisers to check a box labeled “altered or artificial content” when launching a campaign.
This action is part of ongoing efforts to combat election misinformation.
We believe users should be informed when they see election ads that contain synthetic content that has been digitally altered or generated to make it clearly visible whether their ads contain synthetic content depicting people or events. that seem fake or unreal.”
According to the company, this disclosure should be clear and placed so that users can easily identify it.
Advertising is exempt from this new regulation
According to the company, advertisements that contain artificial content that have been modified or created in such a way that the information provided in the advertisement are not affected are exempt from these disclosure requirements.
“This includes editing techniques such as image resizing, cropping, color and brightness correction, error correction (e.g. red-eye removal), and background editing that does not represent actual events,” Google says.
Deepfake ahead of the Indian Lok Sabha elections
Earlier this year, a fake video purportedly showing a Bollywood actor criticizing the ruling party went viral. Separately, in May, ChatGPT developer OpenAI announced five secret events in which its AI models were shut down for “fraudulent activities” on the internet aimed at manipulating public opinion or influencing political outcomes.
Last year, Facebook’s parent company Meta introduced a similar policy requiring advertisers to disclose the use of artificial intelligence or other digital tools to modify or create political, social or election content on Facebook and Instagram.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.