DOJ to Punish AI-Enabled Crimes More HarshlyTags:
US Justice Department is directing federal prosecutors to pursue harsher penalties against criminals who have used AI to facilitate or advance their misconduct. There is a particular focus on election security and misuse of AI around the 2024 elections.
Summary
- Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced the DOJ policy to prosecute AI-enabled crimes more harshly, citing the risks posed by rapidly advancing AI/generative technology.
- The policy covers a range of potential crimes like election interference, discrimination, antitrust violations, identity theft etc. enabled by AI.
- DOJ is "particularly focused" on formulating a response to AI risks to US voters around the 2024 elections through disinformation, impersonation, deepfakes etc.
- Monaco credited AI's potential to aid law enforcement but said it may be the "sharpest blade yet" in technology's history as a double-edged sword.
- DOJ has started using AI internally to aid investigations and cases, but will be issuing guidance to guard against rights violations or safety risks.
- The department has "just scratched the surface" of how AI can aid its work including tracing opioid sources and processing electronic evidence.
- Lower courts may have to take on more of the burden of interpreting ambiguous laws if the Supreme Court moves to limit federal agencies' power to do so.