Political and Economic
Using AI systems to conduct large-scale disinformation campaigns, malicious surveillance, or targeted and sophisticated automated censorship and propaganda, with the aim of manipulating political processes, public opinion, and behavior.
"Political and Economic - Manipulation of political beliefs, damage to political institutions and the effective delivery of government services."(p. 9)
Sub-categories (6)
Economic instability
"Economic instability - Uncontrolled fluctuations impacting the financial system, or parts thereof, due to the use or misuse of a technology system, or set of systems."
5.1 Overreliance and unsafe usePower concentration
"Power concentration - Amplification of concentration of economic and/or political wealth and power, potentially resulting in increased inequality and instability."
6.1 Power centralization and unfair distribution of benefitsElectoral interference
"Electoral interference - Generation of false or misleading information that can interrupt or mislead voters and/or undermine trust in electoral processes."
4.1 Disinformation, surveillance, and influence at scaleInstitutional trust loss
"Institutional trust loss - Erosion of trust in public institutions and weakened checks and balances due to mis/disinformation, influence operations, over-dependence on technology, etc."
3.2 Pollution of information ecosystem and loss of consensus realityPolitical instability
"Political instability - Political polarisation or unrest caused by increased inequality, job losses, over- dependence on technology making societies vulnerable to systemic failures, etc, arising from or amplified by the use or misuse of a technology system."
6.2 Increased inequality and decline in employment qualityPolitical manipulation
"Political manipulation - Use or misuse of personal data to target individuals’ interests, personalities and vulnerabilities with tailored political messages via micro-advertising or deepfakes/synthetic media."
4.1 Disinformation, surveillance, and influence at scaleOther risks from Abercrombie2024 (53)
Autonomy
5.2 Loss of human agency and autonomyAutonomy > Autonomy/agency loss
5.2 Loss of human agency and autonomyAutonomy > Impersonation/identity theft
4.3 Fraud, scams, and targeted manipulationAutonomy > IP/copyright loss
4.3 Fraud, scams, and targeted manipulationAutonomy > Personality rights loss
5.2 Loss of human agency and autonomyFinancial and business
4.3 Fraud, scams, and targeted manipulation