Episodes

  • Sen. Rounds argues the US should use AI to combat AI deepfakes in the 2024 election

    Sen. Rounds argues the US should use AI to combat AI deepfakes in the 2024 election
    Apr 6 2024
    Who?Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) LISTEN: Laslo & RoundsAsk a Pol asks:When it specifically comes to deepfakes in the 2024 election — anything actionable? Key Rounds: “The thing if we can draw attention to the American public that you’ve got countries outside of the United States that really are trying to influence the elections, and we can use AI to identify what they are and so can the platforms,” Sen. Rounds exclusively told Ask a Pol. “You’ve got to use AI to do it, to detect it in the first place as early as possible.”Caught our ear:“But the second piece is there’s got to be more attention brought to the American public that a huge amount of the information that is being presented right now on social media is intended to influence them with misinformation. And that’s just something that we just have to keep pounding on with the American public,” Rounds says. “They’ve got to discern what is accurate and what might actually be a deepfake.”Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Mike RoundsMatt Laslo: “You had those AI forums, one of your colleagues said they were, y’know, kind of hosted by Big Tech. ‘Cause his accusation in that he was saying it’s hard to regulate…”ICYMI — Sen. Josh Hawley rips bipartisan AI forums Mike Rounds: “Not hosted, but, y’know, look, we had players that were making a difference in AI. They wanted to share it. And we didn’t limit it to just one type of advisory group. We invited lots of different types that were involved in the advisory groups. So, for us, we just wanted as much information as we can get from all different sources, and these are the sources. And I don’t wanna do things in ignorance, I wanna do things with as much information as possible, and they were providing it. And in some cases, they actually provided, y’know, information from differing perspectives. That was healthy to hear the difference, and we could then flesh out.”ML: “Do you think, when it specifically comes to deepfakes in the 2024 election, is anything actionable? I know there’s a couple of competing bills, but we’re now in the midst of an election.”MR: “You know, we are except, accepting. the thing is, if we can draw attention to the American public that you’ve got countries outside of the United States that really are trying to influence the elections, and we can use AI to identify what they are and so can the platforms. If there’s a way that there’s a comfort level in identifying when you’ve got adversaries that are actually putting misinformation out through, y’know, different sources, but on social media primarily, we can go long ways towards correcting some of it. You’ve got to use AI to do it, to detect it in the first place as early as possible. But the second piece is there’s got to be more attention brought to the American public that a huge amount of the information that is being presented right now on social media is intended to influence them with misinformation. And that’s just something that we just have to keep pounding on with the American public. They’ve got to discern what is accurate and what might actually be a deepfake.”ML: “At this point, instead of a bill addressing it, would it be easier to put in extra funding for DHS [Department of Homeland Security] or…”MR: “Yeah. It’s a part of it. It won’t fix it. But because the platforms themselves have to have a comfort level that there is a recognition that restricting what you know to be false information is defensible. And I think that’s where the challenge is going to be. And it’s the reason why we want, like, the Judiciary Committee to really have a say in it, so that we actually use the expertise they’ve got there to help craft that type of legislation.”Another reporter cuts in with a 2024 election question about Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC). Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoluaps.com/subscribe Get full access to Ask a Pol ai at www.askapolai.com/subscribe
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    4 mins
  • Sen. Cramer on AI deepfakes legislation: "people will act according to what’s in their interest"

    Sen. Cramer on AI deepfakes legislation: "people will act according to what’s in their interest"
    Apr 5 2024
    Who?Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND)LISTEN: Laslo & Cramer Ask a Pol asks:What was your takeaway from all those AI briefings and forums last year? Key Cramer: “I don’t know,” Cramer tells Ask a Pol. “I’s like crypto. When I decide I’m not interested anymore, ‘cause I’ve got 1,400 other priorities, I leave it up to somebody smarter, somebody else.” Caught our ear on deepfakes “I think there’s plenty of impetus to act. The problem is that people will act according to what’s in their interest, y’know, at the moment,” Cramer says. ICYMI Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Kevin CramerMatt Laslo: “How are you?”Kevin Cramer: “Hey, I’m good, how are you?”ML: “Does tonight matter at all? New Hampshire? Does New Hampshire[‘s primary] matter?”KC: “Oh, does it matter? Here’s what I’ve always said about New Hampshire and Iowa. And this — it matters less all the time as things get a little bit closer, a little consolidated, right and I’ve got a lot of history with this. Come on in.”Cramer waves Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo onto his elevator. KC: “But it matters in this sense — and it still seems to — and that is it’s a momentum creator.”ML: “Yeah?”KC: “Particularly, if you stack — if Iowa and New Hampshire go the same direction, it makes almost everything else meaningless. And it’s kind of too bad in the sense that this way, in some respects, a national primary makes some sense, the problem then is that little places like New Hampshire and Iowa...”ML: “…are forgotten.”KC: “…their intimate discussions are forgotten. And so that’s the beauty of it. The downside of it is it can create momentum that prevents something else, maybe, from happening. So that’s — so yeah, it matters in that sense.”ML: “But now with [Florida Governor Ron] DeSantis out, this doesn’t feel like much of a race?”Both laugh. KC: “Well, that’s because one guy’s run away with it, and he’s earned it, y’know.”ML: “Have you seen the deepfakes that were deployed?”KC: “The what?”ML: “Have you seen the deepfakes that were deployed? Like using President Biden’s voice?”ICYMI KC: “I heard about it this morning on one of the shows when I was working out. It was one of the — I have the three TVs going on, and they’re all different channels.”Sen. Cramer laughs. ML: “Because last January I was asking each of you US senators about this, and you were like, ‘What?’ We’re now in the midst of Election 2024…”KC: “Oh, for sure, we are.”ML: “…and we’re gonna see deepfakes deployed like we’ve never seen before.”KC: “Right, probably.”ML: “Like, is there any impetus to act?”KC: “Well, I think there’s plenty of impetus to act. The problem is that people will act according to what’s in their interest, y’know, at the moment. So is there a broader impetus to act? You know, I don’t think any of this stuff is — I don’t think anybody likes it, to the degree they can stop it. Y’know, I often wonder how many deepfakes are prevented for each one that gets through. Sorta like any type of a cyber situation, until you can stop them all, y’know, you probably have to counter them with ‘That’s a deep — that’s a fake.’”ML: “Was the takeaway from all those AI briefings and forums last year — what was your takeaway from them?”KC: “I don’t know.”ML: “Right?”Laslo laughs. KC: “When I decide — listen, it’s like crypto. When I decide I’m not interested anymore, ‘cause I’ve got 1,400 other priorities, I leave it up to somebody smarter, somebody else.”ML: “Yeah. Sweet. ‘Preciate you.”Transcript stops, but audio continues of another reporter asking about 2024 vice Presidnetial politics. Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoluaps.com/subscribe Get full access to Ask a Pol ai at www.askapolai.com/subscribe
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    4 mins
  • Sen. Cantwell on slowing down House TikTok bill: "we are trying something a little more robust & long-term" on data privacy

    Sen. Cantwell on slowing down House TikTok bill: "we are trying something a little more robust & long-term" on data privacy
    Apr 4 2024
    Who?Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) — Chair, Senate Commerce Committee Ask a Pol askedIs it frustrating that the only serious data privacy conversation we have on Capitol Hill in the past decade or so is on this rushed TikTok measure?Key Cantwell “Oh, I don’t know,” Cantwell replied. “I don’t think it’s the only…” “To hit the floor.” “Oh you’re saying…”“To hit the floor.”“I think the information age — with AI, ChatGPT coming around — everybody’s like, ‘Well, what’s in an algorithm? And what’s it doing?’ And we want to know that too. We want to stop that. Meaning, discrimination, distillers or anything that’s hurting US citizens or the US military,” Cantwell said. “That’s why we wrote the GUARD Act in the NDAA. But, you know, agencies have had different views and some people like certain agency approaches over others and so, you know, these guys got this done so, yeah, it’s something to consider, figuring out how to get a robust tool in the hands of our — to help protect US citizens.”Background: See Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo’s past data privacy coverage for WIRED mag. Caught our ear “We do want to minimize more data collection. We don’t want people to do deleterious things with it,” Cantwell said. “We want to have as robust a system as we can.”Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s interview with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), slightly edited for clarity.LISTEN: Cantwell scrum TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Maria CantwellSCENE: Before she can pop up a senator’s only staircase on her way to vote on the Senate floor, Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo spots Cantwell and then three tech reporters descend on her for an impromptu press coMatt Laslo: And how’s this young lady?Reporter 1: How are ya?Maria Cantwell: Good. How are you all?Reporter 1: What is your view of the TikTok bill at this point?MC: We’re talking, you know, we had the GUARD Act which we were trying to — we tried to get that on the DOD [Department of Defense] bill before, and so now we’re just talking to all our colleagues over on the committee and then in leadership about what they want to do. Reporter 1: Some have said, you know, you’ve had former aides that are now lobbying for TikTok maybe…MC: I didn’t even know that. Laughter. Matt Laslo: Are you skeptical of the House proposal?MC: We want something that’s constitutional, that could do the job. We want a larger privacy bill. We want to fight and minimize data. Like so, we want, you know, we want a robust approach so. And, I think they have parts of that in there but, I think, we want to hear from people about making it, you know, very effective. ML: From that, it sounds like you don’t think it’s constitutional? It sounds like you don’t think it’s constitutional.MC: I want to hear from people. We haven’t heard from everybody. We were…ML: But you’re not decided?MC: We were previously working with DOJ [Department of Justice], so that’s why we want to understand this. But, I think, the line they keep saying is ‘it needs improvement’. And I’m like, ‘What does that mean?’Reporter 2: If you were a House member would you have been a ‘No’ yesterday?MC: I don’t know. I would’ve probably spent the time before and made a decision.Reporter 1: Does this strong vote over there affect your thinking at all?MC: You want people to be engaged. But, the dilemma, you know, like with the Trump’s executive order, you want something that is gonna get sustained so that you can use the tool. ’Cause we do want to minimize more data collection. We don’t want people to do deleterious things with it. We want to have as robust a system as we can. The GUARD Act included a bunch of other stuff, including hardware and other tools that would give us, you know, the overall effort. So we’re gonna, we’re gonna look at it. We’ve just been so busy, we just didn’t have a chance to…Reporter 2: Would you mark up the GUARD Act? Would you mark that up?MC: Yeah, we could. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, if you could take the House bill and have them kind of debate that…MC: Oh I’m sorry, I’m sorry, sorry. We could do either. Right, we could do either. We could take the House bill up or we could take something else. You know I’m going to talk to Mark [Warner] and the Intel. guys, because I think they want to go back and think about their bill. So this has just kicked off a lot of discussion. Reporter 1: Have you talked to [Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer at all since the passing? MC: No. No.ML: Is it frustrating that the only serious data privacy conversation we have on the Hill, in the past decade or whatever, is on this rushed TikTok measure?MC: Oh, I don’t know. I don’t think it’s the only, but…ML: To hit the floor. MC: Oh you’re saying…ML: To hit the floor.MC: I think the information age — with AI, ChatGPT coming around — everybody’s like, ‘Well, what’s in an algorithm? And ...
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    4 mins
  • Sen. Cardin on whether Foreign Relations Committee will play role in deepfake legislation: “We might have some interest in that”

    Sen. Cardin on whether Foreign Relations Committee will play role in deepfake legislation: “We might have some interest in that”
    Apr 3 2024

    Who?

    Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) — Chair, Foreign Relations Committee

    Ask a Pol asked:

    Do you think we’ll get any floor time on the AI and deepfake legislation?

    Key Cardin:

    “The Rules Committee, I think, is looking at this in conjunction to the elections. Trying to get something out ASAP,” Cardin told Ask a Pol.

    “But this is gonna come down to foreign interference?”

    “Well, we’ll find out,” Cardin replied. “We might have some interest in that.”

    LISTEN: Laslo & Cardin

    Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), slightly edited for clarity.

    TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Ben Cardin

    Ben Cardin: “The Rules Committee, I think, is looking at this in conjunction to the elections. Trying to get something out ASAP.”

    Matt Laslo: “So it’s not really under your committee on Foreign Relations?”

    BC: “No-no, no, it’s really Rules [Committee], ‘cause it’s election. But we have some…”

    ML: “But this is gonna come down to foreign interference. Parts of it, but still.”

    BC: “Well, we’ll find out.”

    ML: “Yeah?”

    BC: “We might have some interest in that.”

    ML: “Do you think we’ll get any floor time? It just doesn’t feel like this is a thing.”

    BC: “It’s a big — it’s a big deal, yeah. We’re trying to take care of the election issue first.”

    ML: “Yeah? Preciate ya.”

    Matt Laslo covers tech politics for WIRED, lectures on technology’s impact on government at Johns Hopkins and is the founder of Ask a Pol — a new people-powered press corps.

    Ask a Pol — asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. @AskaPol_AI

    Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.



    This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoluaps.com/subscribe

    Get full access to Ask a Pol ai at www.askapolai.com/subscribe
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    1 min
  • Sen. Hirono says there's more of an imperative to act after Biden deepfake ad

    Sen. Hirono says there's more of an imperative to act after Biden deepfake ad
    Mar 16 2024
    Who?Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI)Ask a Pol asked:Is there going to be any legislative response to the Biden deepfake?Key Hirono: “We could all predict that this was going to happen,” Hirono tells Ask a Pol. “So I hope that that this would be a bipartisan effort to make sure that people are not lied to in this way. It’s really terrible.”Doesn’t election make it harder to pass a deepfake bill?“Since it’s already upon us, we should do something about it to prevent this kind of abuse,” Hirono said. “I should think there’s more of an imperative to do something about it.” Content posted at AskaPol.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.LISTEN: Laslo & HironoBelow find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Mazie HironoMatt Laslo: “Hey, how are you, ma’am? I remember asking you last year about deepfakes in the 2024 election…”Mazie Hirono: “About what?”ML: “About deepfakes — using of AI, generative AI. Now we’re here in 2024. Did you catch the one with — imitating Biden?”MH: “I didn’t hear it, but I heard it described, that that is what is happening.”ML: “Any senatorial response? Any legislative response?”MH: “There’s already a bill that was introduced that I’ve signed on to that would prevent the use of AI without disclosure in the political context, and I believe it’s being led by [Sen.] Amy Klobuchar. So she has a lot of election bills.”ML: “But now we’re in the midst of the election…”MH: “Yes, I know.”ML: “…does kind of that suck the air out of this town and this building?”MH: “What do you mean ‘suck the air out of it’?”ML: “Are you going to able to get floor time for it?”MH: “I don’t know, but I think that that’s something that I would bring up with Amy [Klobuchar] to see what we can do. Because we could all predict that this was going to happen.”ML: “Yeah.”MH: “So I hope that that this would be a bipartisan effort to make sure that people are not lied to in this way. It’s really terrible.”ML: “Are there any more resources y’all can provide Homeland Security or something like that?”MH: “There may be, I don’t know.”ML: “Yeah?”MH: “But, since it’s already upon us, we should do something about it to prevent this kind of abuse.”ML: “But doesn’t it make it harder now that we’re in the middle of an election to get something on the floor?”MH: “I should think there’s more of an imperative to do something about it.”ML: “I’ll be watching. Preciate you.”MH: “Yes. Thank you.”Matt Laslo covers tech politics for WIRED, lectures on technology’s impact on government at Johns Hopkins and is the founder of Ask a Pol — a new people-powered press corps. Ask a Pol — asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. @AskaPol_AI This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoluaps.com/subscribe Get full access to Ask a Pol ai at www.askapolai.com/subscribe
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    2 mins
  • After State of Union, Klobuchar praises FEC deepfake clampdown but says Congress must act

    After State of Union, Klobuchar praises FEC deepfake clampdown but says Congress must act
    Mar 9 2024
    Who?Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)Ask a Pol asked:“I haven’t talked to you since the FEC [Federal Election Commission] moved on deepfakes — do you think it’ll solve it?” Key Klobuchar:“Well, that’s very helpful, but we should still pass the bill in the package of AI, if not somewhere else,” Klobuchar exclusively told Ask a Pol. LISTEN: Laslo & KlobucharBelow find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Amy KlobucharSCENE: After President Joe Biden finished his State of the Union address, Sen. Klobuchar was walking through the Capitol with a staffer. Amy Klobuchar: “Hey.”Matt Laslo: “What are the marks you give him [President Joe Biden] on AI?”Klobuchar laughs.Klobuchar Staffer: “He did in his closing.” AK: “Yeah, he did. He also did talk about the children’s safety [act or KOSA].”ML: “Yeah?” AK: “Ya know, and I was glad. I may have been the first one to stand, I don’t know. But (inaudible) on the tech safety. I also was the first one to stand on transparency in ticketing.”ML: “I haven’t talked to you since the FEC [Federal Election Commission] moved on deepfakes.”AK: “Yes!”ML: “Do you think it’ll solve it?”AK: “Well, that’s very helpful, but we should still pass the bill in the package of AI, if not somewhere else, so, I think…”ICYMIML: “What’s the problem right now if you guys don’t act?”AK: “Well, we’re just — Schumer is putting together a framework, right? With [Sens.] Todd Young (R-IN) and [Sen. Mike] Rounds (R-ND) and [Martin] Heinrich (D-NM) — it’s a bipartisan framework. So we’re waiting for that. And we got two levels on the AI: one is the deepfakes, to ban those. And the second is the labeling for the next grade down of AI. I gotta go.”ML: “And you got the White House on your side?”AK: “Yeah.” ML: “Thank you, ma’am. Have a good one!”Matt Laslo’s a veteran congressional correspondent, new media prof. & founder of Ask a Pol — a new, people-powered press corps.Ask a Pol — asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoluaps.com/subscribe Get full access to Ask a Pol ai at www.askapolai.com/subscribe
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    1 min
  • Sen. Susan Collins: "I’m very concerned" about deepfakes in 2024

    Sen. Susan Collins: "I’m very concerned" about deepfakes in 2024
    Mar 8 2024

    Who?

    Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)

    Ask a Pol asked:

    How worried are you after seeing that Biden deepfake in the New Hampshire primary?

    Key Collins:

    “It’s exactly the kind of thing we’ve been worried about, is using the AI, it is remarkably easy to imitate voices or send out a video of someone who is running for office and appears to be doing something or saying something that is utterly fake. And I’m very concerned. That’s why we introduced the bill.”

    DEEPER DIVE:

    This interview helped inform this feature: ‘Abuse’: Politicians are fretting about AI stealing their faces and voices

    LISTEN: Susan Collins

    Matt Laslo covers tech politics for WIRED, lectures on technology’s impact on government at Johns Hopkins and is the founder of Ask a Pol — a new people-powered press corps.

    Ask a Pol — asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. @AskaPol_AI



    This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoluaps.com/subscribe

    Get full access to Ask a Pol ai at www.askapolai.com/subscribe
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    1 min
  • Sen. Jerry Moran on AI: "I’d love to see committees do their work"

    Sen. Jerry Moran on AI: "I’d love to see committees do their work"
    Mar 5 2024
    Who?Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS)Ask a Pol asked:“Some of your colleague have called for a more sweeping, catch-all AI bill — is it better, from your standpoint, to do this committee by committee and small? Or?”Key Moran “Well, I’d love to see committees do their work. And there’s wide jurisdiction here, with lots of consequences. And I think it’s a broad enough issue that if every committee did their own work and produced a good product, it’d be a great outcome,” Moran tells Ask a Pol. “Well, I always worry that a talk of a big bill means some gang of ten or something, and we bypass a committee process and we end up in a kind of a position that we’re in now working on the border.”Caught our ear “Well, I always worry that the talk of a big bill means some gang of 10 or something and we bypass the committee process and we end up in the kind of position that we’re in now working on the border,” Moran says. LISTEN: Laslo & MoranBelow find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Jerry MoranSeems Laslo snuck up on the senator… Jerry Moran: “Oh, hey. Oh, hello.”Matt Laslo: “I was just curious, did you have any takeaways from the AI forums and briefings last year?”JM: “Well, I have nothing that’s reportable other than there’s a lot of challenges here, and we need to get it right. Serious consequences, and we’ve introduced legislation requiring — this as a [Sen. Mark] Warner-Moran thing — requiring utilizing the NIST standards government-wide but then encouraging them among the private sector.”ML: “Some of your colleague have called for a more sweeping, catch-all AI bill — is it better, from your standpoint, to do this committee by committee and small? Or?”JM: “Well, I’d love to see committees do their work. And there’s wide jurisdiction here, with lots of consequences. And I think it’s a broad enough issue that if every committee did their own work and produced a good product, it’d be a great outcome.”ML: “Yeah? What are your thoughts on a big AI bill? Or even there’s talk of a commission that some members have proposed?” JM: “Well, I always worry that the talk of a big bill means some gang of 10 or something and we bypass the committee process and we end up in the kind of position that we’re in now working on the border.”ML: “Yeah? And Silicon Valley ends up writing it?” JM: “And everything else.”ML: “Yep. Appreciate ya.”JM: “Yes, sir.”Matt Laslo’s a veteran congressional correspondent, new media prof. & founder of Ask a Pol — a new, people-powered press corps.Ask a Pol — asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoluaps.com/subscribe Get full access to Ask a Pol ai at www.askapolai.com/subscribe
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    2 mins