Meta has stated that fears of artificial intelligence fueling widespread election misinformation in 2024 did not materialise, thanks to robust safeguards. The company reported no significant evidence of coordinated disinformation campaigns achieving widespread impact online, Meta’s president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, revealed during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Clegg noted that while concerns about generative AI tools producing deep fakes and misinformation were widespread before the elections, such tactics proved ineffective in bypassing Meta’s defenses.
Meta identified Russia, Iran, and China as the primary sources of covert influence campaigns over recent years. While AI’s role in election manipulation appears subdued this year, Clegg warned that the technology’s increasing sophistication demands vigilance.
Describing 2024 as the largest election year ever, Clegg highlighted that 2 billion people across scores of countries participated in elections. The tech industry, including Meta, collaborated extensively to counter AI-enabled disinformation.
Reflecting on past practices, Clegg acknowledged Meta’s overzealous content moderation during the Covid-19 pandemic and promised greater precision in policy enforcement.
Clegg also addressed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, noting that it focused on maintaining America’s leadership in the tech space, especially regarding AI’s pivotal role.
Despite positive results in 2024, Meta plans to keep enhancing its defenses, anticipating generative AI’s growing influence in shaping online discourse.
