Minnesota Lieutenant Governor and U.S. Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan (DFL) is criticizing an attack ad against her which claims includes an AI deepfake of herself.
The ad which is available below, was put out by North Star Dawn PAC. It shows a manipulated photo of Flanagan with her hand out in front of a pile of money.
There is a law in Minnesota that says you cannot use AI deepfakes in political ads “within 90 days of an election” — the general election is 152 days away, but the DFL primary is 68 days away.
"The real issue here is that the court may decide whether or not this breaks Minnesota law or not," WCCO Radio political analyst Blois Olson said. "And that's where the speed of campaigning is such that, is it the accusation that makes people think, look at the ad twice or three times? Or is it, do the courts catch up?"
There could be a splitting of hairs on whether or not it is an AI deepfake, or simply using AI to make a caricature.
"Caricatures and manipulated images have been in political ads for decades," notes Olson. "For this case it is hard to differentiate. That said, it raises questions and should spark a discussion about what is AI?"
Flanagan's opponent, Congresswoman Angie Craig (DFL), has said she does not support the use of AI in political ads.
“The Congresswoman has been consistent that she does not support the use of A.I. in political ads," said a statement from Craig's campaign. "She has also co-sponsored legislation that would prohibit deepfakes. The Lt. Governor’s complaints are meant to distract from the fact she accepted millions of corporate dollars as chair of the DLGA.”
Olson adds that we are experiencing the first real "AI election."
"And then the biggest thing is what's a deep fake? I had always thought to myself, and still kind of think to myself, that a deepfake is, for instance, if it was a radio ad and they used Peggy Flanagan's voice," Olson explains. "And they generated her voice to say words she never said. To me that's a deepfake rather than an image that's an animation. I mean, it's a picture of her, it's a picture she used in her campaign. They just animated it in a way campaigns have for years, but the way in which you frame it, and you attack your opponent saying you're using A, I think is as much about the fear of AI as to the actual, 'did AI get used or not.' It's kind of a distraction."
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