The algorithm is already on your ballot
States are writing the first real rules for AI in elections. What they cover, and the gap they leave open.
By Rusty Calloway No. 003
Fake audio of a candidate used to take a studio. Now it takes a phone and a few minutes. States have noticed, and a patchwork of new rules is filling the gap that federal law hasn’t.
What the rules usually require
Most of them focus on disclosure. If a political ad uses AI to show a real person saying something they never said, it has to say so.
The gap
The laws mostly cover paid ads. They say much less about a clip made by an anonymous account and shared a million times for free. That’s where most people actually see it.
How to check a clip yourself
- Look for the original source before you share.
- Search whether any newsroom has confirmed it.
- Be most suspicious of the clips that make you angriest.
What to watch
Whether the first enforcement cases hold up in court. The rules mean little until someone is actually held to them.
Sources
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