ITN Chief Executive Rachel Corp and The Sun’s Executive Vice-President Dominic Carter warn about the challenges posed by deepfakes and misinformation to broadcasters during the upcoming General Election, stressing the need for innovative solutions to combat synthetic content and uphold journalistic integrity.
Broadcasting Concerns Over Deepfakes and Misinformation on Election Day
On Tuesday, during the Media And Telecoms 2024 And Beyond Conference at Park Plaza London Riverbank, ITN Chief Executive Rachel Corp highlighted challenges broadcasters will face on election day with deepfakes and misinformation. ITN, which produces 5 News, ITV News, and Channel 4 News, has noted a significant issue as broadcasters are required to halt regular news coverage while polls are open, reducing their ability to counter false information promptly.
Corp indicated that ITN has been addressing these concerns with the government for over a year, especially emphasizing the threat posed by deepfakes targeting their presenters. She mentioned plans to collaborate with tech company Open Origins to use blockchain for certifying the authenticity of their video archives.
Dominic Carter, executive vice-president of publishing at The Sun, added that the upcoming General Election is expected to drive significant online traffic, despite not boosting newspaper sales. He emphasized that journalism remains relevant amidst rising synthetic content, although he did not disclose which political party The Sun would support.
Both media executives underscored the increased importance of addressing synthetic content and misinformation, considering the impactful role of journalism in the democratic process.
