DOJ Acknowledges Preventing Release of Biden Audio Due to Concerns Over Election Influence

The Justice Department has expressed concerns that releasing an audio recording of a special counsel’s interview with President Joe Biden could lead to deepfakes and disinformation that deceive Americans. The government acknowledges its limitations in preventing the misuse of artificial intelligence ahead of the upcoming election.

In a court filing on Friday, a senior Justice Department official explained the reasons for keeping the recording confidential. The Biden administration is seeking to block the release of the interview, which focused on the president’s handling of classified documents.

This acknowledgment underscores the potential impact of AI-manipulated disinformation on the electoral process and the challenges faced by the federal government in addressing this issue.

A conservative group pursuing the release of the recording dismissed the Justice Department’s argument as a distraction. Mike Howell of the Heritage Foundation accused the Department of trying to shield Biden from potential embarrassment due to the content of the interview.

The Justice Department’s decision to prevent the release of the audio has raised concerns about transparency and accountability. Critics argue that the public has the right to hear the recording and assess the information firsthand.

In response to worries about deepfakes, the Justice Department emphasized the risk of malicious actors exploiting the audio to create fake content. However, experts caution that restricting access based on these concerns could have broader implications for releasing information to the public.

The ongoing legal battle over the recording highlights the intersection of technology, government transparency, and the need to safeguard against misinformation in the digital age.