Expert Q&A from Augusta University
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In an era where it is too easy for anyone to alter images or video, what are some of the dangers that can be associated with these deep fakes? How can this negatively impact the election, and just life in general with having this kind of misinformation out there? (1)
There can be multiple concerns regarding disinformation and elections. One, if voters make decisions about whether to vote for a candidate based on disinformation/misinformation, this is a concern for elections because in a democracy the hope is that voters can make informed voting decisions based on accurate information.
Second, if millions of people are exposed to disinformation/misinformation and only a small percentage of those are not aware that the disinformation/misinformation is false, this could have significant effects for elections. The reason is that in recent presidential elections, and likely in the upcoming election, the margin of victory in some swing states can be less than 1% of the total state vote in some cases. Thus, if only a small percentage of individuals who are exposed to disinformation/misinformation believe the information is true, and the disinformation/misinformation affects their voting decisions, that could have significant effects on the election outcome of a given swing state. Furthermore, we know that the election outcome of each swing state has important implications for the overall presidential election outcome.
Taylor Swift recently took to her Instagram page to “set the record straight” about an AI version of her that had “endorsed” Former President Donald Trump. What are some of the things people can look for to know if a celebrity has indeed endorsed a candidate? (1)
People can go to the celebrity’s social media page to see their recent social media activity. On the page, people can search for information regarding political endorsements. People should be aware that many fake and parody social media accounts exist for celebrities, so people need to make sure they locate the real social media accounts of the celebrity in question. Also, people can search reputable news sources to see if there is any verifiable information (i.e., the information has been verified by other reputable news sources) regarding celebrity endorsements.
Why has Georgia seen a boom in the movie and television industry in the last 20 years? (1)
The main reason is tax incentives. That was a very targeted tax incentive that had a positive effect. Georgia basically said you produce your movies and films here, but there are certain rules to follow, such as having a certain percentage of your workforce be local, you'll receive those tax incentivies.
Are there other things other than tax breaks that companies look for when moving into a location? (1)
In luring businesses to invest in the state, companies look at several needs that include built infrastructure and human capitol. They also look at lifestyle choices in the immediate area where they want to locate. They look at what are the assets in the community? What are workers going to be doing after work?
Why has Georgia's economy been so strong where they have had a surplus in tax revenues as compared to other southern states? (1)
Georgia's politicians have been more responsible in managing their budgets and investing in long-term development, and this goes back decades.
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