AI deepfakes used in US midterm election attack ads

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 20:19 · Archive

Artificial intelligence-generated deepfake videos are being used in US midterm election campaign advertisements.

Artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes are being used in attack ads during the US midterm election campaign. Political candidates and their supporters have spent more than $80m to produce more than 164 AI-based advertisements this election season, according to the Wesleyan Media Project, a non-partisan election advertising tracker. Republican candidates and their backers were behind 80 per cent of these ads.

Ads released by Bruce Blakeman, a Republican running for governor of New York, feature New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani and state governor Kathy Hochul depicted gardening together and collaborating to raise prices for residents. Another shows Hochul discussing toll and fare increases. Neither politician actually appeared in the videos, which were made using artificial intelligence. The ads carry disclaimers identifying them as AI-generated, appearing for a few seconds at the start. Blakeman defended them as following a long tradition of satire and parody in American politics.

Scott Babwah Brennan, director of New York University's Center on Technology Policy, characterises the trend as 'slopaganda' – identifiably fake ads that blend low-quality AI 'slop' with propaganda. He argues such content communicates 'deeper truths rather than factual truths', potentially shaping perceptions of candidates' character or ideology and impacting voter trust.

How it is being reported

• AI deepfake ads grow more popular in US midterm campaigns, blurring truthThe US midterm election campaign has been filled with political ads featuring AI deepfakes that can mislead voters.Al Jazeera · 9 Oct, 19:23
• AI ‘deepfakes’ give US political attack ads a new twistManipulated images are filling the airwaves in the run-up to November’s midterm electionsFinancial Times · 9 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Bruce Blakeman · Kathy Hochul · Zohran Mamdani · New York · New York University · Wesleyan Media Project

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