Elections watchdog warned AI presents ‘high’ risk in current campaign: internal documents [Video]

An internal briefing note prepared for Canada’s election watchdog classifies the use of artificial intelligence as a “high” risk for the ongoing election campaign.

The briefing note was prepared for Commissioner of Canada Elections Caroline Simard — an independent officer of Parliament tasked with enforcing the Elections Act, including fining people for violations or laying charges for serious offences — roughly a month before the campaign kicked off.

“[The upcoming election] will quite probably generate complaints involving the use of AI tools that may constitute a contravention of the [Canada Elections Act],” the document says.

The briefing note was obtained through an access to information request by the University of Ottawa’s Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic and provided to CBC News. 

The document — dated Feb. 23 — indicates that while AI can be used for legitimate purposes, there are risks that the tools could be used …