A large majority of Germans advocate for more stringent measures addressing manipulated artificial intelligence content across digital platforms. Findings from a new Forsa survey, commissioned by the organization Campact and reported by the “Rheinische Post”, reveal public concern about deepfakes and fabricated AI material.
According to the survey, 92% of respondents support holding major technology corporations such as Meta, TikTok, and Google more accountable, demanding that these companies face stricter supervision and penalties if they fail to remove AI-manipulated content. The opposition was noted at only 7%, with 1% remaining undecided. This desire for stronger regulations was most pronounced among the 14-to-29 age group, where 94% voiced support for stricter rules. The survey collected data from over 1,000 people in early May.
Furthermore, most respondents believe that platforms should prevent the upload of manipulated AI content altogether. Two-thirds of participants (67%) insist that platform operators must block the upload of such material from the outset. In contrast, 29% found it acceptable to check manipulated AI content only after it has been published and reported. Support for a general ban was notably higher among women (74%) compared to men (60%).
Astrid Deilmann, executive director at Campact, informed the “Rheinische Post” that the results confirm that the public does not want deepfakes. She argues that fabricated deepfakes of politicians, fake voices, and AI-generated individuals pollute public discourse and have no place in public debate. Deilmann stressed that the federal government must take decisive action against platforms like Meta, TikTok, and Google, which reportedly profit millions from these AI fakes. Specifically, she called for increased fines if platforms fail to uphold their deletion obligations, alongside a mandatory upload review process for highly realistic AI manipulations.
