Romania‘s telecoms regulator is set to initiate steps to suspend TikTok, citing potential interference in the recent presidential election. Pavel Popescu, the regulator’s deputy head, announced plans to begin the suspension process on Thursday. The action will remain in place until state authorities conclude their investigation into allegations of electoral manipulation linked to the platform.
The scrutiny comes after TikTok‘s role in Sunday’s election raised concerns about misinformation and influence. Officials are prioritising transparency and security during the ongoing electoral process.
The decision underscores the increasing global attention on social media platforms’ influence on democratic processes.
Nvidia’s stock surged to new highs on Thursday, pushing its market value to an unprecedented $3.65T, fueled by a broad rally following Donald Trump’s presidential election win. Investors, optimistic about potential tax cuts and deregulation under the renewed Republican administration, helped boost Nvidia shares by 2.2%, establishing the AI chipmaker as the most valuable company worldwide, surpassing Apple’s previous record of $3.57T.
Since the beginning of November, Nvidia’s stock has climbed 12%, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s leadership in artificial intelligence technology. Demand for Nvidia’s AI chips from tech giants like Microsoft and Google has kept its growth momentum strong, with analysts expecting Nvidia to report an 80% revenue increase to $32.9B in the upcoming quarterly results.
As the tech sector overall continues to benefit from Trump’s anticipated policies, Nvidia’s valuation has also outpaced the combined worth of industry heavyweights such as Walmart, JPMorgan, and UnitedHealth. This significant milestone highlights Nvidia’s dominant role in the AI chip industry amid intense competition to build computing power for AI applications.
The head of US cybersecurity, Jen Easterly, announced Monday that, despite an increase in disinformation targeting the 2024 presidential election, there has been no evidence of interference capable of affecting the election outcome. Easterly noted the unprecedented levels of false information spreading across online platforms, much of which has been attributed to foreign actors aiming to sow division among voters.
US authorities have pointed to Russia as one of the primary sources of election-related disinformation, including a widely circulated fake video in Georgia showing an immigrant falsely claiming to have voted multiple times. Officials say that similar tactics are expected to continue beyond Election Day, targeting trust in the electoral process through to January.
Easterly assured voters that election security is stronger than ever, thanks to enhanced protective measures and improved preparedness across voting jurisdictions. Her message emphasised the government’s ongoing commitment to maintaining safe, secure, and reliable elections for all Americans.
The cryptocurrency industry is bracing for a shift in US regulatory policy, with leaders expecting a more favorable approach from Washington, regardless of the next administration. After years of regulatory tension under President Joe Biden’s administration, crypto companies are optimistic that the incoming administration will adopt a more supportive stance toward digital assets. Notable crypto firms, including Bitwise and Canary Capital, are actively developing new products, and other companies are preparing fresh pushes for pro-crypto legislation in Congress.
Both presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, have expressed openness toward the digital asset industry. Trump has even pledged to become a “crypto president,” while Harris, though less specific, has shown support for digital innovation and investor protection, which many industry leaders interpret as a potential shift in regulatory tone. This perspective is reinforced by Harris supporter Mark Cuban, who recently emphasised her promise to protect crypto users.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), led by Chair Gary Gensler, has taken a strict stance on crypto assets, citing risks illustrated by cases like FTX’s collapse. Gensler’s tenure has involved multiple enforcement actions against major crypto exchanges, creating a challenges for digital assets. However, crypto executives believe that a new administration could bring changes, including potentially overturning regulatory guidance that has deterred financial institutions from crypto involvement.
On 18 September 2024, US Senate Intelligence Committee members questioned top tech executives from Google, Microsoft, and Meta about their plans to combat foreign disinformation ahead of the November elections. The executives, including Microsoft’s Brad Smith and Meta’s Nick Clegg, acknowledged the heightened risk during the 48 hours surrounding Election Day, with Smith emphasising the period as particularly vulnerable. Senator Mark Warner echoed this concern, noting that the time immediately after the polls close could also be crucial, especially in a tight race.
During the hearing, lawmakers discussed recent tactics used by foreign actors, including fake news websites mimicking reputable US media outlets and fabricated recordings from elections in other countries. Senators pressed the tech companies for detailed data on how many people were exposed to such content and the extent of its promotion. While the companies have adopted measures like labeling and watermarking to address deepfakes and misinformation, they were urged to enhance their efforts to prevent the spread of harmful content during this sensitive period.
A major super political action committee (PAC) supporting US Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential campaign, Future Forward PAC, will now accept cryptocurrency donations. Coinbase confirmed that the PAC has partnered with its commerce platform to facilitate crypto contributions ahead of the upcoming election in November, where Harris faces former President Donald Trump in a closely contested race.
Although Harris has not yet publicly taken a stance on cryptocurrencies, her campaign team has engaged with leading crypto firms like Coinbase and Ripple. Trump’s campaign, meanwhile, has been courting crypto donors by promising policies friendly to the sector, while Harris’ adviser, Brian Nelson, hinted at support for emerging technologies, a positive signal for the crypto industry.
Crypto companies are making contributions to pro-crypto candidates across both political parties through super PACs, focusing on congressional races. Meanwhile, a Washington fundraiser is set to raise $100,000 for Harris, with the crypto community calling for a softer regulatory approach.
Super PACs are allowed to raise unlimited funds to support candidates but are prohibited from directly contributing to campaigns or political parties, positioning Future Forward PAC as a key player in Harris’ electoral bid.
As the US election draws near, the proliferation of deepfake content is raising serious concerns about its impact on undecided voters. Deepfakes—AI-generated images, videos, or audio clips—pose a significant threat to the democratic process by making it increasingly difficult for the public to distinguish between reality and fiction. This issue was recently highlighted when Donald Trump falsely claimed that a large crowd welcoming Vice President Kamala Harris in Detroit was an AI fabrication, despite evidence proving the event’s authenticity.
Trump’s unfounded allegations and the spread of misleading deepfake content by his supporters are not just problematic for those who are firmly in his camp, but for undecided voters. These voters, who are critical to the outcome of the election, may struggle to discern the truth amidst a flood of manipulated media. This erosion of trust in what is real and what is fabricated undermines a key pillar of democracy and creates fertile ground for anti-democratic forces to gain power.
The growing prevalence of deepfakes and other digital misinformation strategies is expected to intensify in the run-up to the election. Already, Trump supporters have circulated a clearly AI-generated image, falsely claiming it was promoted by the Harris campaign. Such tactics aim to blur the lines between truth and falsehood, turning the election discourse away from verifiable facts and towards a chaotic environment where nothing can be trusted.
Experts warn that unless decisive action is taken, deepfake content will continue to compromise the integrity of the democratic process. The European Union has expressed similar concerns about the role of deepfakes in elections, highlighting the global scale of the problem. In the US, the spread of political spam and digital misinformation has surged as the 2024 election approaches, further complicating the landscape for voters.
A legal campaign led by allies of former US president Donald Trump requested an investigation within the misinformation research field, claiming an alleged conspiracy to censor conservative voices online. Under this investigation, academics in the field who worked at tracking election misinformation online were scrutinised daily, including regular scanning of their correspondence with AI software and searching for messages from government agencies or tech companies.
Disinformation has proliferated online as the US election approaches, especially after significant events such as the assassination attempt on Trump and President Biden’s withdrawal from the race. Due to the political scrutiny, researchers held back from publicly reporting some of their insights on misinformation issues related to public affairs.
Last month, the Supreme Court reversed a lower-court ruling restricting tech companies and the government from communicating about misinformation online. But the ruling hasn’t deterred Republicans from bringing lawsuits and sending a string of legal demands.
According to the investigation by The Washington Post, the GOP campaign has eroded the once thriving ecosystem of academics, nonprofits and tech industry initiatives dedicated to addressing the spread of misinformation online. Many prominent researchers in the field, like Claire Wardle, Stefanie Friedhoff, Ryan Calo and Kate Starbird, have expressed their concerns for academic freedom and democracy.
According to research conducted by Proofpoint, the volume of mobile political spam ahead of the 2024 election has tripled compared to the 2022 midterms. The study indicates a growing trend among US voters to seek information through digital platforms, which can increase their vulnerability to cybercriminal activities.
With 60% of American adults favouring digital media for news consumption and 86% using smartphones, tablets, or computers, there is a notable reliance on digital channels. Nearly all US voters (97%) have access to mobile messaging services. Despite the widespread trust in mobile messaging, Proofpoint warns that the surge in smishing, impersonation, and unwanted spam messages is nowadays eroding this confidence.
While many voters are cautious about fake news on social media, fewer recognise the significant risks associated with mobile messaging and email impersonation tactics. Notably, incidents of election-related smishing attacks have risen by over 7% in the past nine months compared to the previous period.
The increase in mobile political messaging, commonly used by campaigns and interest groups, has coincided with a rise in malicious activities. For instance, following former President Donald J. Trump’s guilty verdict in his ‘hush money’ trial, there was a notable 240% increase in unwanted political messaging within 48 hours, with reported volumes reaching tens of millions.
Why does it matter?
Proofpoint emphasised the importance of voters proactively defending themselves against impersonation attacks during this election season. They advise voters to be cautious with unsolicited messages, particularly those urging immediate action. The company also called on mobile operators to prioritise the protection of their users. Maintaining a healthy level of scepticism is crucial for all parties involved.
To mitigate the risks associated with malicious mobile messaging, voters are advised to refrain from opening attachments or clicking on links in such messages. Instead, it is recommended that you enter known URLs into web browsers directly. Thoroughly scrutinising all election-related digital communications is essential to verify their authenticity.
As the ‘year of global elections’ reaches its midpoint, AI chatbots and voice assistants are still struggling with basic election questions, risking voter confusion. The Washington Post found that Amazon’s Alexa often failed to correctly identify Joe Biden as the 2020 US presidential election winner, sometimes providing irrelevant or incorrect information. Similarly, Microsoft’s Copilot and Google’s Gemini refused to answer such questions, redirecting users to search engines instead.
Tech companies are increasingly investing in AI to provide definitive answers rather than lists of websites. This feature is particularly important as false claims about the 2020 election being stolen persist, even after multiple investigations found no fraud. Trump faced federal charges for attempting to overturn Biden’s victory, who won decisively with over 51% of the popular vote.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Apple’s Siri, however, correctly answered election questions. Seven months ago, Amazon claimed to have fixed Alexa’s inaccuracies, and recent tests showed Alexa correctly stating Biden won the 2020 election. Nonetheless, inconsistencies were spotted last week. Microsoft and Google, in return, said they avoid answering election-related questions to reduce risks and prevent misinformation,, a policy also applied in Europe due to a new law requiring safeguards against misinformation.
Why does it matter?
Tech companies are increasingly tasked with distinguishing fact from fiction as it develops AI-enabled assistants. Recently, Apple announced a partnership with OpenAI to enhance Siri with generative AI capabilities. Concurrently, Amazon is set to launch a new AI version of Alexa as a subscription service in September, although it remains unclear how it will handle election queries. An early prototype struggled with accuracy, and internal doubts about its readiness persist. The new AI assistants from Amazon and Apple aim to merge traditional voice commands with conversational capabilities, but experts warn this integration may pose new challenges.
