Deepfake Attack Ad: DeSantis Campaign Deploys AI-Generated Images of Trump Kissing Fauci

A campaign group on Twitter supporting Ron DeSantis as the Republican presidential nominee for 2024 has been found using AI-generated deepfake images in an attack ad targeting rival Donald Trump, The Verge reports.

Released on June 6 and now with more than 3 million views, the video highlights Trump's association with Anthony Fauci, the former White House chief medical advisor who was pivotal in shaping the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fauci has been a controversial figure in right-wing politics, particularly among anti-vaccine proponents, and the attack ad seeks to capitalize on this sentiment by portraying Trump and Fauci as close collaborators.

Campaign Group Releases AI-Generated Video

The video combines actual clips of Trump discussing Fauci alongside a compilation of six images showing the two men together. However, experts have identified that three of these images are AI-generated deepfakes.

AFP was the first to uncover the fakes, pointing out the genuine images and highlighting the discrepancies in the AI-generated ones.

The AI-generated images exhibit several telltale signs, including shiny and blurred textures, physically impossible and awkward poses, as well as inaccurate details in the White House press briefing room depicted in the background.

Image forensics experts expressed high confidence that the images were indeed fake, given their inability to be found in reverse image searches.

US Election, AI-Fueled Campaign

In April, we highlighted in a report the absence of clear rules governing the use of AI in politics. This lack of regulation allows operatives from different political parties to exploit the technology in numerous ways.

These include reshaping campaigns and manipulating voters through tactics such as creating deepfake videos, scams, and inundating voters with false information.

However, it appears that an intense battle of AI-driven black propaganda is currently unfolding.

The Twitter account responsible for sharing the video, known as the "DeSantis War Room," was launched in August by Christina Pushaw, a political aide to DeSantis.

Earlier this year, former President Donald Trump shared an AI-created image of himself praying. In March, doctored photos surfaced showing Trump violently arresting arrest and running from police.

Similarly, Republicans released an attack ad featuring AI-generated imagery after Joe Biden announced his intention to run for re-election in 2024.

When approached for comment, Matt Wolking, a spokesperson for the Never Back Down PAC supporting DeSantis' campaign, acknowledged that the Trump campaign had been involved in misleading deepfakes and false photoshops.

What's Next?

The use of deepfakes blurs the line between parody and disinformation, making it increasingly challenging for viewers to discern fact from fiction.

This attack ad manipulates viewers' perceptions and reinforces pre-existing beliefs by incorporating real and fake images within a single collage.

Deepfakes are becoming a powerful tool for politicians to shape their version of reality, and the implications for the future of political discourse and public trust are deeply concerning.

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