A Stanford University “misinformation expert” has been accused of using artificial intelligence (AI) to craft testimony later used by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison in a politically-charged case.
Jeff Hancock, a professor of communications and founder of the vaunted school’s Social Media Lab, provided an expert declaration in a case involving a satirical conservative YouTuber named Christopher Kohls. The court case is about Minnesota’s recent ban on political deepfakes, which the plaintiffs argue is an attack on free speech.
Hancock’s testimony was submitted to the court by Ellison, who is arguing in favor of the law. Hancock is “well-known for his research on how people use deception with technology, from sending texts and emails to detecting fake online reviews,” according to Stanford’s website.
But the plaintiff’s lawyers have asked the Minnesota federal judge hearing the case to dismiss the testimony, charging that Hancock cited a fake study.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
“[The] Declaration of Prof. Jeff Hancock cites a …