As we approach the 2024 U.S. elections, Google has outlined its commitment to safeguarding its platforms and ensuring the integrity of ‘fair’ democratic processes. Here’s a closer look at how the tech giant is preparing for the upcoming elections.
Safeguarding Platforms
Google aims to safeguard its platforms from misuse, including the spread of altered media, hateful rhetoric, harassment, calls to violence, and misleading information that could undermine democratic practices. To address these concerns, They have deployed sophisticated machine learning models and artificial intelligence to identify and eliminate content that contradicts its standards.
AI and Large Language Models (LLMs)
With the swift progress in Large Language Models (LLMs), Google is engineering more responsive and flexible content moderation systems to stay ahead of emerging issues. They are integrating the latest natural language processing advancements into their machine learning frameworks to swiftly detect policy violations across languages and mediums.
Generative AI Products
Google is taking a principled and responsible approach to introducing generative AI products, including Search Generative Experience (SGE) and Bard. They are thoroughly testing these products for safety risks, which range from cybersecurity vulnerabilities to misinformation and fairness. This rigorous testing process ensures that these products are safe and reliable for users.
AI-generated Content
As Google prepares to launch generative AI services like Search Generative Experience and Bard, they are taking a thoughtful, accountable approach to product development. Recognizing that AI systems can propagate harms if not thoroughly vetted, Google is conducting extensive testing across areas from security to fairness.
This includes adversarial testing to identify potential vulnerabilities, bias audits to promote inclusion, and trial runs focused on factuality and groundedness. By modeling potential risks — from disinformation to exclusion — during the design process, Google aims to architect the guardrails necessary for safe deployment. And they are willing to take the necessary time, even if it delays release, to ensure these powerful models meet the highest standards before reaching users.
Election-related Queries
Starting early next year, Google will restrict the types of election-related queries for which Bard and Search Generative Experience (SGE) will generate responses. This precautionary measure is designed to prevent the proliferation of misleading or false information related to voting, candidates, or election procedures that could potentially impact civic participation or electoral outcomes.
While generative models show promise in increasing access to helpful information, they also carry risks if deployed irresponsibly without safeguards. By narrowly limiting their capabilities around sensitive electoral topics, Google is prioritizing civic integrity and truthfulness over convenience or engagement. The companies’ trust and safety teams will continue monitoring these AI systems and fine-tuning the guardrails surrounding them leading up to and during election cycles. However, caution dictates leading with restraint rather than exposing vulnerabilities. (One MAJOR problem we already have is AI-generated news anchors. See more about this from Kyle @ Ars.)
Informing Voters
Look, I know Google wants to redeem themselves after prior missteps amplified election falsehoods. But they can’t expect our trust overnight when their past actions fueled the dumpster fire of misinformation. This isn’t just a Google problem, it haunts all others, and they need to do better.
Do I hope their new safeguards work? Sure. We could use more integrity in political social media. But the fact is, we wouldn’t need so much “protection” if these titans didn’t already allow users to flood the zone with dangerous misinformation. See: Spamdexing
So Google can pat themselves on the back, but the public remains skeptical — as we should. The health of democracy depends on citizens asking tough questions, especially of powerful companies. It’s not enough to say “we’ve changed!” Rebuilding public faith takes time and consistent proof. We applaud progress but stand firm for accountability.
Maybe they finally realized that they play a huge civic role. If these policies reflect learning from hard lessons, great. But we must affirm that information quality, not quantity of engagement, provides lasting value. Truth over technology. Substance over speed. Let that be Google’s new gospel as they work to regain public trust.
