Explaining public preferences for regulating Artificial Intelligence in election campaigns: Evidence from the U.S. and Taiwan

The increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in election campaigns, such as AI-generated political ads, automated messaging, and the widespread availability of AI-assisted photorealistic content, is transforming political communication. This new era of AI-enabled election campaigns presents regulatory challenges for digital media ecosystems, prompting calls for an updated governance framework. While research has begun mapping AI's role in digital media ecosystems, an often-overlooked factor is public attitudes toward regulating AI in election campaigns. Understanding these attitudes is essential as regulatory debates unfold at national and international levels, where public opinion often constrains the leeway of political decision-makers. We analyze data from two cross-sectional surveys conducted in the United States and Taiwan—two democracies with relatively lenient campaign regulations, which held presidential elections in the same year. We examine the role of general attitudes toward AI, psychological dispositions, and partisan alignments in shaping public support for AI regulation during elections. Our findings underscore the significance of psychological and attitudinal perspectives in predicting regulatory preferences. These insights contribute to broader discussions on AI governance within digital media ecosystems and its implications for democratic processes. • Public support for AI regulation in political campaigns. • Cross-sectional surveys in the U.S. and Taiwan. • Perceptual and behavioral associations shape support for regulation. • Third-person effect in U.S.; second-person effect in Taiwan. • Partisan identification predicts support better than ideology.