As the United States approaches one of the most important elections in its 248-year history, Google is implementing security measures to ensure that users get reliable information. In addition to the measures that announced At the end of last year, the company saying on Friday that will add election-related restrictions to YouTube, Search, Google Play and artificial intelligence products.
YouTube will add information panels on search results for at least some federal election candidates. The modules, likely similar to those those you see When searching the web for prominent figures, basic candidate details will be included, such as their political party and a link to Google Search for more information. The company says the panels may also include a link to the person's official website (or other channel). As Election Day (November 5) approaches, YouTube's homepage will also display reminders about where and how to vote.
Google Search will include aggregated voter registration resources from state election offices for all users. Google obtains that data through a partnership with Democracy worksa nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works with a variety of businesses and organizations “to help voters whenever and wherever they need it.”
Meanwhile, the Google Play store will add a new badge indicating that an app is from an official government agency. The company outlines its requirements for apps that “communicate government information” in a Developer Help DocumentApproved applications that have submitted the required forms are eligible for “official approval indicated by clear visual treatment in the Play Store.”
As for generative ai, which can be prone to hallucinations that would make Jerry Garcia blush, Google is expanding its election-related restrictions, which were announced late last year. They will include disclosures for ai-created or generated ads, content labels for generated content, and built-in SynthID digital watermarks for ai-created text, audio, images, and video. Initially described as being aimed at Gemini (apps and on the web), the election barriers will apply to search ai overviews, YouTube ai-generated summaries for live chat, Gems (custom chatbots with user-created instructions), and Gemini image generation.
