ST CATHERINE, Jamaica- St Catherine West Central Member of Parliament Christopher Tufton says the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in political campaigning is posing a threat to democracy and is urging the legislature to discuss the issue with a view to establishing sanctions for people using the technology to create mischief.

Tufton, who is also the minister of health and wellness, made the call during remarks at the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) St Catherine North Eastern constituency conference on Sunday, saying that the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is actively using the technology to spread falsehoods about the Government and, in particular, Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

“The PNP is pursuing an artificial intelligence political strategy of misrepresentation, propaganda and character assassination, and Jamaicans must have none of it,” Tufton said.

He said that AI is being used, with videos posted on the social media platform TikTok, to give the impression that people have said things that they really didn’t say, or to show them doing things which they didn’t do “and the biggest target is the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party Andrew Holness”.

He said he has seen on TikTok manipulated images of Holness holding a placard and supposedly saying things that he never said.

“I have seen speeches being made that were never made, or misrepresented when taken out of context to give a particular impression that is false,” he added.

“What we are witnessing in this technological age of AI is a manipulation of the people of Jamaica to believe things that never was,” Tufton said and urged Jamaicans to take note of what is happening.

“This approaching political season you are going to see and hear things that never took place. Take heed, ask questions, seek clarity, and as Labourites we need to come together when we’re not sure about what is happening and ask for clarity,” he advised his audience.

“If we allow the artificial intelligence strategy of the PNP it will turn not just us but the country into not knowing, just a spin roun’ like gig. That cannot be good for democracy,” Tufton said.

He called on Technology Minister Daryl Vaz to take on the issue, saying, people must make decisions based on truth and must judge the Government based on what it does, instead of on misinformation spread by the use of artificial intelligence.

“The time is now… to bring some discussion to Parliament to establish some ground rules where people who create mischief by using artificial intelligence are brought to book and are sanctioned for that misrepresentation. People’s reputation is valuable, that’s the only thing you have,” he said.