The Implications of Synthetic Content: Safeguarding Democratic Processes Against Deepfakes and AI-Generated Content

This PhD thesis explores the impact of technology capable of creating synthetic media,
including deepfakes and other AI-generated content, on democratic processes. It examines the
potential harms posed by these technologies, such as automated misinformation campaigns
and interactive persuasion tools, and evaluates strategies to mitigate these risks. Through a
comprehensive analysis, the research seeks to understand how synthetic content can influence
electoral integrity and public discourse. The goal of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive
understanding of how synthetic content impacts democratic integrity and to ideate and test
strategies to mitigate associated risks, ultimately contributing to the safeguarding of democratic
processes in the age of artificial intelligence