Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin issued guidance to help New Jersey residents identify and avoid spreading deepfake content ahead of the presidential election. The guidance aims to combat misinformation created using generative AI technologies. Deepfakes are artificial photos, videos, or audio that appear real but do not represent actual events. They can appear on various platforms as part of false information campaigns. Way and Platkin are raising awareness about how deepfakes can spread false information about candidates, parties, and voting processes. The guidance educates voters on identifying and reporting deepfakes. “Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy and preserving the integrity of that process is paramount,” said Attorney General Platkin. “By raising the public’s awareness of political deepfakes, we are minimizing this potential threat to our electoral process and providing New Jersey voters with critical tools to help them cast their ballot with confidence.” “As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, it is more crucial than ever to protect our electoral process from the growing threats of mis-, dis-, and mal-information,” said Lieutenant Governor Way, who serves as New Jersey’s chief election official in her capacity as Secretary of State. “Generative AI has made it easier to produce political deepfakes—whether through manipulated images, videos, or voices—that mislead and deceive voters. This initiative is a vital step in helping voters recognize these tactics and ensuring the integrity of our free and fair elections.” This effort is part of ongoing work by Platkin and Way to maintain election integrity in New Jersey.