AI in totalitarian regimes

Sub-category

Risk Domain

4Malicious Actors & Misuse

4.1Disinformation, surveillance, and influence at scale

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.

"AI-based surveillance and manipulation could be used to maintain global totalitarian regimes."(p. 11)

Entity— Who or what caused the harm

Human

Due to a decision or action made by humans

AI system

Due to a decision or action made by an AI system

Other

Due to some other reason or is ambiguous

Intent— Whether the harm was intentional or accidental

Intentional

Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal

Unintentional

Due to an unexpected outcome from pursuing a goal

Other

Without clearly specifying the intentionality

Timing— Whether the risk is pre- or post-deployment

Pre-deployment

Occurring before the AI is deployed

Post-deployment

Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed

Other

Without a clearly specified time of occurrence

Other risks from Uuk2025 (60)

Control

7.1 AI pursuing its own goals in conflict with human goals or values

AI systemIntentionalPost-deployment

Democracy

6.0 Socioeconomic & Environmental

OtherOtherOther

Discrimination

1.1 Unfair discrimination and misrepresentation

OtherOtherPost-deployment

Economy

6.2 Increased inequality and decline in employment quality

OtherOtherPost-deployment

Environment

6.6 Environmental harm

AI systemUnintentionalPost-deployment

Governance

6.5 Governance failure

AI systemUnintentionalPost-deployment

View all 60 risks from this paper →