New era of AI in political ads raises concerns over deepfakes
Dozens of Minnesota DFL legislators condemned an AI-generated deepfake attack ad targeting Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan’s U.S. Senate campaign, raising concerns about Minnesota’s 2023 law banning deepfakes in political ads. Experts say the law’s definition of deepfakes remains untested, while Flanagan’s campaign calls the ad misleading and is considering legal action, though Craig’s campaign denies involvement.
Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, the DFL’s endorsed candidate for the U.S. Senate, is at the center of controversy over an AI-generated deepfake attack ad created by a pro-Craig super PAC. The ad has drawn condemnation from dozens of DFL legislators, who argue it exploits emerging technology to mislead voters ahead of the election. The Minnesota Legislature passed a law in 2023 banning deepfakes in political communications, but legal experts say its definition—whether a ‘reasonable person’ would believe the content as real—has never been tested in court. FOX 9 political analyst Blois Olson noted the ad’s authenticity is unclear, as he struggled to confirm whether it was a deepfake after multiple viewings. Manjeet Rege, Director of the Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of St. Thomas, explained how deepfakes are created using deep learning technology to manipulate images and speech. He demonstrated how AI can generate realistic but fake content, including making a person appear to speak languages they do not know, by analyzing short video clips. Flanagan’s campaign described the ad as misleading and stated they are exploring legal options, though no further details were provided. Craig’s campaign denied producing the ad, emphasizing it was not affiliated with their efforts. The controversy highlights growing concerns over AI’s role in political advertising and the need for clearer legal boundaries to prevent manipulation.
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