by Kevin Cody
Hermosa Beach Mayor Justin Massey participated in a confidential briefing with mayors from across the nation, but without the press, on election disinformation. The briefing took place last week during the annual United States Conference of Mayors in Washington D.C.
In New Hampshire, ahead of that state’s Republican Primary election, AI (Artificial Intelligence) was used to make robocalls falsely telling Democratic Party voters the date of the primary election had been moved. Massey said the voice of the robo call sounded like the voice of President Joseph Biden. Because there was no Democratic primary in New Hampshire, the disinformation calls were thought to be a trial run.
Massey recalled his attendance at the Mayors Conference during the Hermosa Beach City Council meeting on Tuesday. He said the mayors were advised to prepare their voters for AI-driven election disinformation by providing voters with sources for reliable election information. Additionally, the mayors were told to encourage voters to report suspected disinformation sources to local law enforcement agencies. ER
