SIIA Expresses Support For National Deepfake and Digital Provenance Task Force
New Legislation A Critical First Step to Combat Digital Forgeries
Washington, D.C. (July 29, 2021) – Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) President and CEO Jeff Joseph issued the following statement today regarding the Deepfake Task Force Act introduced today by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI):
“The bipartisan Deep Fake Task Force Act introduced today is a critical step toward combating the scourge of so-called deep fakes – an abuse of artificial intelligence to create realistic-looking fake media. The goal is simple and important: Establish a National Deepfake and Digital Provenance Task Force to explore ways to verify digital content and begin to create and implement a national strategy to address the growing threat of digital content forgeries.
“Our members include trusted sources that provide an array of accurate, beneficial information that helps fuel business, drive financial markets and improve outcomes in education and healthcare. The spread of misinformation presents a legitimate threat not only to our member organizations but to our democracy itself, eroding public trust in our institutions and communications channels. This proposed legislation seeks to create a government partnership with the private sector to leverage expertise on both sides to fight misinformation, using the ability of the government to convene experts across different sectors. This strategic partnership is both pro-innovation and pro-democracy.
“Trust in facts is a cornerstone of American democracy and a free and open society. Disinformation and distrust of the media have been major contributors to our socially, politically and economically polarized culture. Our society cannot function without accurate information and the fundamental ability to trust what we are seeing, hearing and watching. The spread of misinformation is real and it is harmful. We support this landmark effort to begin to restore trust.
About SIIA:
SIIA is the only professional organization connecting more than 700 data, financial information, education technology, specialized content and publishing, and health technology companies. Our diverse members manage the global financial markets, develop software that solves today’s challenges through technology, provide critical information that helps inform global businesses large and small, and innovate for better health care and personal wellness outcomes – they drive innovation and growth. For more information, visit www.siia.net.
