ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona training election employees, law enforcement on AI hoaxes, deep fakes

Jan 4, 2024, 12:07 PM | Updated: Jan 5, 2024, 7:41 am

PHOENIX — Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes doesn’t want officials and law enforcement to fall victim to artificial intelligence hoaxes in 2024 elections, so he’s being proactive with training.

Fontes told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Thursday his office conducted a “tabletop exercise” where elections officials and law enforcement from the local, statewide and national levels were run through different scenarios they could face this election season.

“We really used those to test whether or not folks were going to sort of fall into the traps that were set,” Fontes said. “It was a really good way to prepare for some of the possible bad acts that we might see in ’24.”

Why are AI hoaxes a concern in Arizona for upcoming elections?

AI made a jump into the mainstream in 2023. Arizona’s standing as a swing state and recent history with election conspiracies could see it be more susceptible to hoaxes in the coming year compared to other states, according to Fontes.

Deep fakes of Fontes, other elections officials and security personnel were created and used in the training. One of the more common hoax tactics highlighted was the use of AI to replicate voices of notable officials, including Fontes, to spread misinformation.

Officials were placed into groups with others they weren’t familiar, a decision Fontes said he made to fully educate everyone on potential hoaxes.

A panel of national experts also gave a presentation to educate Arizona leaders about what they can anticipate seeing.

“They gave a really great panel presentation about the technology just to get folks familiar with it so that it’s not a mystery to the people who might have to deal with that,” Fontes said.

Arizona’s Presidential Preference Election is set for March 19, the first opportunity to put the training to the test. It will be followed by the primary election on Aug. 6 and the general election on Nov. 5.

“It was a great learning experience and I’m very proud of the work that we are doing to prepare for 2024,” Fontes said.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

What happened before man found dead by suicide in Mesa?...

Serena O'Sullivan

Suspect in fatal shooting found dead by apparent suicide in Mesa, police say

A Mesa man accused of fatally shooting a man in his 30s in a domestic violence incident on Tuesday was found dead by suicide, police said.

9 minutes ago

Karrin Taylor Robson...

Kevin Stone

Karrin Taylor Robson announces 2nd run for governor of Arizona

Karrin Taylor Robson, who unsuccessfully ran for governor of Arizona in 2022, announced Wednesday she is running again in 2026.

2 hours ago

Phoenix police officers shot and killed a suspect near Williams Field and and Higley roads in Gilbe...

KTAR.com

Man killed, woman wounded in overnight shooting involving Phoenix police officers in Gilbert

A man was killed and a woman was injured in an overnight shooting involving Phoenix Police Department officers in Gilbert, authorities said Wednesday.

2 hours ago

A Scottsdale estate with a Jordan shoe display and a full basketball gym was listed for $23.5 milli...

Kevin Stone

Furnished Scottsdale estate with basketball gym, Jordan sneaker display listed for $23.5M

A basketball lover’s dream home is on the market in north Scottsdale, but you better have plenty of space under your salary cap if you want to buy it.

4 hours ago

Uranium mining...

Kevin Stone

Arizona GOP leader wants Trump administration to remove uranium mining restrictions

Arizona's Republican Senate president is hoping the Trump administration will undo actions by former presidents that curtail uranium mining in the state.

4 hours ago

Follow @KTAR923...

Sponsored Content by Bright Wealth Management

How updating your estate plan is crucial in saving money

As you map out your estate plan, mapping out beneficiaries and keeping it up to date is key in order for the most funds possible to be passed down with ease.

Sponsored Articles

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Collins Comfort Masters: Your go-to plumbing experts in Arizona

Collins Comfort Masters, a trusted name in HVAC, water and plumbing since 1985, is you go-to plumbers for the residents of Phoenix and the Valley.

...

Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax

How to optimize the most money in 2024 tax returns

As tax season begins, getting your financials in order is important to maximize your tax return.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to start your retirement planning early and avoid costly mistakes

Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you can avoid costly pitfalls.

Arizona training election employees, law enforcement on AI hoaxes, deep fakes