ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND REWRITING HISTORY: THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS.

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly prominent role in the analysis, reinterpretation, and even rewriting of historical narratives. Through powerful technologies such as deepfakes, generative models, and machine learning algorithms, AI can manipulate historical data and imagery in ways that challenge the integrity and authenticity of the historical record. These technological advances raise significant legal and ethical questions, particularly regarding the ownership and authenticity of AI-generated content, the potential spread of misinformation, and the risks posed by revisionist histories driven by algorithmic manipulation. As AI’s capacity to generate and disseminate historical reconstructions grows, concerns about intellectual property rights, defamation, historical falsification, and the distortion of cultural memory have become increasingly urgent. This paper critically investigates the implications of AI's involvement in shaping historical discourse, with a focus on the intersection between technology, law, and historical integrity. It explores how existing legal frameworks—such as copyright law, defamation law, and regulations on misinformation—apply to AI-generated historical content and whether these laws are sufficient to address the novel challenges posed by AI-driven historical revisionism. Through an interdisciplinary analysis, the paper examines the legal status of AI-generated works, the attribution of authorship and liability, and the tension between free expression and the need to preserve factual historical narratives. In addition to evaluating current legal regimes, this study proposes a set of legal and policy reforms aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and ethical standards in the use of AI for historical purposes. It advocates for the development of international guidelines and regulatory mechanisms to safeguard against the misuse of AI in historical contexts, while still encouraging technological innovation and scholarly exploration. Ultimately, this paper offers a balanced approach to managing AI’s transformative potential in historical scholarship, ensuring that advancements in AI contribute to, rather than undermine, the accurate and responsible understanding of the past.