OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is in the beginning stages of putting guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence in campaign ads.
“I think there’s quite a few variations on this and a lot to consider,” Oklahoma Ethics Commission Executive Director Lee Anne Bruce Boone said.
“We had discussion a couple of months ago at our regularly scheduled meeting about some political mailers that had been sent out. Some of them involved current candidates in this election cycle. Some of them involved current office holders who were not part of the election cycle. And you did ask that we study that a little further,” Bruce Boone said.
During the meeting Bruce Boone gave a presentation on definitions of artificial intelligence, what other states have done and what some courts have said.
One commissioner spoke about the ads that have been seen this election cycle, without naming any in particular.
“I have continued to ponder this particular aspect of our current campaign, and I remain unable to see anything positive that could be developed from this sort of technology,” Vice Chair Adam Weintraub said.
The commission voted to begin the rulemaking process.
“I think it’s important that we get it right and make sure that we’re in line with what we can do within the law, but there needs to be some restrictions and limitations and rules,” Chair Justin Meek said.
There were no bills regarding this topic that made it across the finish line this legislative session. Bruce Boone said this topic is something they will work with the legislature on.
Governor Stitt has said he is considering calling lawmakers for a special session to, “outlaw deceptive AI-generated political content in Oklahoma elections.”
We reached out to multiple gubernatorial campaigns to ask if they have used AI in their advertisements.
Meyer Siegfried with Chip Keating’s campaign said, “Any time we’ve used AI in an ad, our campaign has included a voluntary disclosure for full transparency.”
Andrew Speno, Mike Mazzei for Governor spokesperson said, “We do not use AI in our ads; we just copy and paste graphics. As everyone knows, the Ethics Commission called this hearing because of that creepy AI commercial from Drummond’s SuperPAC. We are glad the commissioners are taking this issue seriously.”
