2024 FCC AI Deepfakes Disclosure Sign-On Letter
2024 FCC AI Disclosure Sign On Letter
Kathy Berthot,
Media Bureau, Policy Division
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Ms. Berthot,
We, the undersigned, write to express our strong support for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) proposal to ensure transparency in the use of AI-generated content in political advertisements on TV and radio, especially when the AI-generated content falsely depicts a candidate or persons saying or doing something that they never did with the intent to cause harm or deceive voters (known as “deepfakes”). These rules are essential to safeguard the integrity of our democratic processes and ensure that voters are fully informed of the origins of political advertisements.
Evidence now abounds of the significant and deceptive impact that AI-generated content can have. The proposed disclosure requirements are a natural and common-sense extension of the FCC’s existing mandates to ensure transparency in broadcasting in general and in political advertising on radio and TV in particular. The proposed rules are especially important because broadcasters interpret the FCC’s current rules as prohibiting them from requiring disclosure of AI-generated content.
We support the following aspects of the proposed rules:
- On-Air and Written Disclosure Requirements: We favor requiring both on-air disclosures and written disclosures in broadcasters’ political files when AI-generated content is used, especially to create deceptive deepfakes.
- Application to Both Candidate and Issue Advertisements: Extending the disclosure requirements to both candidate and issue advertisements recognizes the broad impact of AI-generated content and ensures that all political messaging is subject to the same transparency standards.
- Inclusive Application to Broadcasters and Other Entities: Applying the disclosure requirements to all pertinent content carriers ensures that all major content platforms under the FCC’s jurisdiction are covered at the local, state and federal levels,
We urge the FCC to adopt these rules promptly. We commend your office’s leadership in addressing this critical issue and look forward to continued collaboration to provide transparency about the use of AI on broadcast the airwaves.
Sincerely,
Access Now
Accountable Tech
AFL-CIO
AFT
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Business for America
Campaign Legal Center
Center for Biological Diversity
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Clean Elections Texas
Common Sense Media
Consumer Action
Democracy 21
End Citizens United//Let America Vote Action Fund
Fix Democracy First
Franciscan Action Network
Friends of the Earth
Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart
Indivisible Santa Fe
Institute for Strategic Dialogue
Issue One
Maine Citizens for Clean Elections
MOVI, Money Out Voters In
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
National Organization for Women
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
North Carolina for the People
Oxfam America
People Power United
Public Citizen
Public Knowledge
Restaurant Opportunities Centers United
Secure Elections Network
The Value Alliance
The Workers Circle
Transparency International U.S.
United Church of Christ
United We Dream
Verified Voting
Vote.org
WALKING TO FIX OUR DEMOCRACY
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign