The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is considering new rules that would require candidates to disclose the use of artificial intelligence in their campaign ads, following concerns raised by voters. Currently, Oklahoma politicians are not obligated to reveal if their ads were created using AI. However, the commission is exploring potential changes to campaign finance laws to address this issue. “It became very clear that throughout this election cycle AI is here to stay. That’s something we need to think about how it might impact our campaign finance laws in the future,” said Lee Anne Bruce Boone, executive director of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. The issue was first brought to the commission by voters who received AI-generated mailers and saw AI-created TV commercials. Since then, the commission has held several meetings to explore how other states are addressing AI and campaign transparency. On Thursday, the commission reviewed Maryland’s approach to the issue. “Their approach is really two-pronged. So, it’s really disclosure related, which would be the lane of the ethics commission, and then there are also criminal penalties for someone who might have an intent to defraud voters, but that would certainly be the decision of the legislature,” Boone said. While any proposed rule would require legislative approval and would not take effect this election cycle, the commission is leaning toward implementing disclosure requirements in the future. “I think we’ll see what everyone is doing but probably leaning towards disclosure and as much disclosure as we can allow,” Boone said.
OKLAHOMA CITY —
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is considering new rules that would require candidates to disclose the use of artificial intelligence in their campaign ads, following concerns raised by voters.
Currently, Oklahoma politicians are not obligated to reveal if their ads were created using AI. However, the commission is exploring potential changes to campaign finance laws to address this issue.
“It became very clear that throughout this election cycle AI is here to stay. That’s something we need to think about how it might impact our campaign finance laws in the future,” said Lee Anne Bruce Boone, executive director of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.
The issue was first brought to the commission by voters who received AI-generated mailers and saw AI-created TV commercials. Since then, the commission has held several meetings to explore how other states are addressing AI and campaign transparency.
On Thursday, the commission reviewed Maryland’s approach to the issue.
“Their approach is really two-pronged. So, it’s really disclosure related, which would be the lane of the ethics commission, and then there are also criminal penalties for someone who might have an intent to defraud voters, but that would certainly be the decision of the legislature,” Boone said.
While any proposed rule would require legislative approval and would not take effect this election cycle, the commission is leaning toward implementing disclosure requirements in the future.
“I think we’ll see what everyone is doing but probably leaning towards disclosure and as much disclosure as we can allow,” Boone said.
