Civic Nebraska hosts AI and democracy summit at UNL ahead of legislative hearing – Nebraska Examiner

LINCOLN Just days before lawmakers consider the possible impacts of artificial intelligence on Nebraskas upcoming elections, at least one state senator says the conversations are just beginning.

State Sen. Tom Brewer, who represents north-central Nebraska, joined Civic Nebraskas community forum Saturday on AI and democracy, stating bluntly that AI is scary and that multiple University of Nebraska professors, who detailed possible impacts of the technology, scared the hell out of me.

Theyre talking about things that if you stop, pause and think about, how do you stop it? Brewer told a group of about three dozen people at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Heidi Uhing, director of public policy for Civic Nebraska, moderated the event. She pointed to January robocalls using President Joe Bidens voice to trick voters ahead of the New Hampshire primary. In 5,000 AI-generated calls, people were discouraged from voting.

That was sort of the first shot over the bow when it comes to artificial intelligence used in our elections, Uhing said.

Brewer, a two-time Purple Heart recipient who chairs the Legislatures Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, suggested lawmakers come together to learn more about AI after the 2024 session and after the May primary election to examine whether there are any issues.

He suggested that the Government and Judiciary Committees should investigate AI, possibly providing momentum to propel 2025 legislation up the food chain.

We need smart folks all along the way to make sure as we build it, as we write it, that end product is good to go, Brewer said.

Brewer said there is a chance but a remote one that AI-related legislation could become law in 2024, since none of the bills has been prioritized.

Gina Ligon, director of the University of Nebraska at Omahas National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center, said Saturday that NCITE has started to examine how terrorist or non-state actors might be using AI.

Previous thinking was terrorists needed specific expertise for attacks, but AI is closing the gap.

Ligon said terrorists are using AI to find information, and in just the last week shared manuals of how to use it on the dark web among terrorist organizations.

U.S. election hardware and systems are methodical and more protected than elsewhere in the world, Ligon said, but she cautioned that election officials and workers are not protected.

If you get enough of these threats, enough of these videos made about you, youre maybe not going to volunteer to be an election official anymore, Ligon said.

Thats what keeps me up at night is how we can protect election officials here in Nebraska from what I think is an imminent concern of how terrorists are going to use this technology, Ligon continued.

NCITE has also been looking at threats to election officials, with a record number in 2023, double from when the center started investigating a decade ago. However, Ligon said, thats just the tip of the iceberg through federal charges focused on violence.

Ligon said Nebraska lacks specific language related to election worker harassment, which could degrade and erode election workers ability to come to work and to protect elections. She said she would like to see enhanced penalties should someone attempt to harass an election official.

Local threats to local officials, to me, is national security, Ligon said.

Nebraska election officials in 2022 said their jobs were more stressful and under the spotlight.

Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse said Saturday his biggest concern is bad actors attempting to use AI to sow misinformation or disinformation about elections, such as changes to voting deadlines or polling places.

The only thing that has changed is we now have voter ID in Nebraska, Kruse said.

Its always good to have the conversation about election safety, Kruse said, because he and his office try to be proactive. He added that in daily journals he reads, not a day goes by without an AI-related article.

Legislative Bill 1390, from Lincoln State Sen. Eliot Bostar and endorsed by Civic Nebraska, would prohibit deep fakes, or deceptive images or videos, of election officers. It also would crack down on threats and harassment of election officials or election workers and requires an annual report. It will be considered at a Government Committee hearing Wednesday.

LB 1203, by State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, will also be considered Wednesday. It would have the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission regulate AI in media or political advertisements.

UNL Professor Matt Waite, who taught a fall 2023 course on AI and journalism, said it might be impossible to escape the damage that AI could cause and said the field is changing so fast his course was like flying a plane with duct tape and prayer.

I get six different AI newsletters a day, and Im not even sure Im keeping up with it, Waite said.

In one example, Waite described creating an AI-generated clip of UNL radio professor Rick Alloway for his class. He and students asked dozens of people to listen to two audio clips of the same script and decide which was AI-generated and which was read by Alloway.

About 65% of those responding to the poll had heard Alloway before or had taken one of his classes. More than half, 55%, thought the AI-generated clip was actually the professors voice.

The AI inserted breath pauses you can hear the AI breathing, Waite said. It also went um and ah twice.

The Nebraska Examiner published the findings of a similar experiment with seven state lawmakers last month. Senators similarly expressed concern or hesitation with where to begin to address AI issues.

Waite said lawmakers are in an arms race that you cannot possibly win and have tried to legislate technology before but have often run aground on First Amendment or other concerns.

Its not the AI thats the problem, Waite said. Its the disruption of a fair and equitable election.

Professor Bryan Wang, who teaches public relations at UNL and studies political advertising, explained that social media has created echo chambers and niche connections, which complicates AI use.

AI is already changing the production, dissemination and reception of information, Wang said, such as users in a high choice environment where they may choose to avoid political information incidentally being exposed and sharing information within their bubble.

That process isnt random, Wang continued, as social media works off algorithms that feed off peoples distrust, which extends to all sectors of life.

We also need to work on restoring that trust to build more empathy among us, to build more data and understanding among us, Wang said. Research does show that having that empathy, having that dialogue, does bridge gaps, does help us understand each other and does see others views as more legitimate that way.

Kruse said the mantra of see something, say something also applies to elections and said his office and others around the state stand ready to assist voters.

Wang said theres a need for media literacy, too.

State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha introduced LB 1371, to require media literacy in K-12 schools and set a graduation requirement. The Education Committee considered the bill Feb. 20.

At the end of the event, Uhing and panelists noted that AI is not all bad in the realm of democracy. Waite said AI could expand community news, which has been shrinking nationwide, or could be used to systematically review voter rolls.

Kruse said voters in Douglas County recently asked for a remonstrance petition to stop local government from doing something. AI could help teach staff about such a petition.

He also said quasi-public safety tools could review Douglas Countys 13 dropboxes and associated cameras to identify a suspect should there be an issue.

I dont have the staff, the time or the funds to sit there and monitor my cameras 24/7, Kruse said.

Waite said AI is not all evil and encouraged people to play around with it for themselves.

Youre not giving away your moral soul if you type into a chat window, Waite said. Try a few things out and see what happens.

Editors note: Reporter Zach Wendling was a student in Waites fall class on AI.

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Civic Nebraska hosts AI and democracy summit at UNL ahead of legislative hearing - Nebraska Examiner

Where Nikki Haley’s fundraising stands ahead of Florida visit – WPBF West Palm Beach

Nikki Haley is attending a fundraiser Wednesday night at a private residence in Palm Beach.Covering South Florida: Nikki Haley to fundraise in Palm Beach and MiamiThe event will be attended by some of the wealthiest residents in Palm Beach County, with tickets costing $10,000 per person.Between January and September of 2023, Haley's campaign raised $18,709,236.41, according to the Federal Election Commission. Donald Trump's campaign has raised $56,699,777.27 in that same amount of time. Campaigns dont end because candidates dont think they can win," said Kevin Wagner, a political science professor at Florida Atlantic University. "Campaigns end because candidates run out of money. So, one of the things any candidate is going to do is spend a fair amount of time trying to raise money to support their campaign, and there are few places in the country that are better to raise money than Palm Beach County, especially on the island. With only two primaries in the rearview mirror, Wagner said Haley can make a strong argument to voters that much of the race is ahead of her, despite unfavorable polling numbers.How to vote: WPBF 25 News partners with the Supervisor of Elections in Palm Beach County for voter registration driveThe fundraiser in Palm Beach is a more traditional way of raising campaign funding in contrast to a recent shift to more online fundraising directly to campaign websites.We have seen a series of campaigns that manage to succeed and raise a lot of money through smaller donations by having a broader base of small donors, said Gregory Koger, a political science professor and director of the Hanley Democracy Center.Nikki Haley's visit comes just one day after President Biden attended a campaign event in Jupiter and a matter of days before Trump makes an appearance in his home county.Previous coverage: President Biden visits south FloridaThe real message for Floridians, especially the ones who live in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade County is: get used to it," Wagner said. "You are going to see candidates down here a fair amount if not campaigning, then fundraising.Despite Haley falling behind Donald Trump in the polls, she has maintained that she will remain in the race.Koger said she is likely positioning herself as a viable option should Trump not be up for consideration by the time the Republican Convention happens.The process of undergoing those trials or getting an actual conviction might make him much less desirable as a Republican Party candidate, and the Republican Party might need someone to turn to, Koger said. For that reason, Nikki Haley might want to stick around in case the Republican Party needs a viable candidate on the ballot competing in primaries.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25 Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

Nikki Haley is attending a fundraiser Wednesday night at a private residence in Palm Beach.

Covering South Florida: Nikki Haley to fundraise in Palm Beach and Miami

The event will be attended by some of the wealthiest residents in Palm Beach County, with tickets costing $10,000 per person.

Between January and September of 2023, Haley's campaign raised $18,709,236.41, according to the Federal Election Commission. Donald Trump's campaign has raised $56,699,777.27 in that same amount of time.

Campaigns dont end because candidates dont think they can win," said Kevin Wagner, a political science professor at Florida Atlantic University. "Campaigns end because candidates run out of money. So, one of the things any candidate is going to do is spend a fair amount of time trying to raise money to support their campaign, and there are few places in the country that are better to raise money than Palm Beach County, especially on the island.

With only two primaries in the rearview mirror, Wagner said Haley can make a strong argument to voters that much of the race is ahead of her, despite unfavorable polling numbers.

How to vote: WPBF 25 News partners with the Supervisor of Elections in Palm Beach County for voter registration drive

The fundraiser in Palm Beach is a more traditional way of raising campaign funding in contrast to a recent shift to more online fundraising directly to campaign websites.

We have seen a series of campaigns that manage to succeed and raise a lot of money through smaller donations by having a broader base of small donors, said Gregory Koger, a political science professor and director of the Hanley Democracy Center.

Nikki Haley's visit comes just one day after President Biden attended a campaign event in Jupiter and a matter of days before Trump makes an appearance in his home county.

Previous coverage: President Biden visits south Florida

The real message for Floridians, especially the ones who live in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade County is: get used to it," Wagner said. "You are going to see candidates down here a fair amount if not campaigning, then fundraising.

Despite Haley falling behind Donald Trump in the polls, she has maintained that she will remain in the race.

Koger said she is likely positioning herself as a viable option should Trump not be up for consideration by the time the Republican Convention happens.

The process of undergoing those trials or getting an actual conviction might make him much less desirable as a Republican Party candidate, and the Republican Party might need someone to turn to, Koger said. For that reason, Nikki Haley might want to stick around in case the Republican Party needs a viable candidate on the ballot competing in primaries.

Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25

Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

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Where Nikki Haley's fundraising stands ahead of Florida visit - WPBF West Palm Beach

NATO top job should go to country that pays up on defense, Latvian FM says – POLITICO Europe

Latvian Foreign Minister Krijnis Kari, who has joined the race to become NATO's next secretary-general, thinks the job should go to someone from a country that walks the talk on defense spending.

Latvia is investing "about 2.4 percent of our GDP into defense this year, and we're heading up to 3 percent in the next three years," Kari told POLITICO's Power Play podcast.

"We sort of put our money where our mouths are," the foreign minister added. "Which is important, I think, for any secretary-general to be able to speak to those members who are not yet doing it."

Several European leaders have expressed interest in taking over as head of the military alliance after NATO's current chief, Jens Stoltenberg, announced he would step down at the end of his term, which was extended until October.

Aside from Kari, Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who could become the alliance's first female boss, and the Netherlands' outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte have also said they are interested in the job.

While Rutte is considered to be the front-runner, he has faced criticism over his country's failure to meet the alliance's defense spending target, set at 2 percent of each country's gross domestic product. Estonia's spending has surpassed that mark since 2015, according to NATO. Latvia has contributed more than 2 percent of its GDP to defense since 2018.

Aside from the role of NATO chief, the race for top jobs in the European Union has otherwise already started in Brussels, after European Council President Charles Michel announced he would run in the European election in June.

If elected, Michel would take office in July, meaning that EU leaders would have to rush through what are usually lengthy negotiations to find his replacement.

Otherwise, they risk having Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbn who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin step in to temporarily chair the meetings between EU leaders as his country takes on the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU on July 1.

Kari said Michel's announcement took him "a little bit by surprise," and added it was "very difficult to imagine how an agreement could be taken before the elections."

If he doesn't get the NATO job, Kari who is a former member of the European Parliament said he would not rule out coming back to the European capital. Although he would seek to do so as an EU commissioner instead.

"Politics is a fickle business ... I can certainly close no doors today," Kari said.

"Who knows what tomorrow will bring," he concluded.

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NATO top job should go to country that pays up on defense, Latvian FM says - POLITICO Europe

Kremlin Taps Liberal Businessman to Oppose Putin in 2024 Election Report – The Moscow Times

Russian businessman Alexei Nechaev will stand in as President Vladimir Putins liberal rival during Russia's 2024 presidential race, the independent news outlet Mozhem Obyasnit reported Tuesday, citing two anonymous sources in the pro-business political party he created nearly four years ago.

Nechaev, who owns one of Russias leading cosmetics companies Faberlic, stepped into politics when he founded the New People party in the run-up to the 2021 State Duma elections, which saw the party secure 15 seats in the 450-seat lower house of parliament.

According to Mozhem Obyasnit, the businessman-turned-politician's role in the 2024 presidential race will be to attract liberal voters to the polls, just as his party has done in other elections in recent years.

New People has reportedly already begun work on Nechaevs campaign and is expected to announce his candidacy at its December convention.

Nechaev is also a member of the All Russia Peoples Front (ONF), a political coalition created by Putin in 2011. He has made several pro-Putin remarks during his time in politics, and he has also backed Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Putin is widely expected to announce his re-election bid in the coming weeks, though he has said that he plans to wait until after Russia's parliament officially calls the presidential campaign in mid-December.

The Kremlin has said before that Putin would face no competition if he ran in 2024.

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Kremlin Taps Liberal Businessman to Oppose Putin in 2024 Election Report - The Moscow Times