The heated Republican primary between Congressman Thomas Massie and Ed Gallrein in the northern Kentucky district now features super PAC attack ads deceptively depicting each candidate with artificial intelligence-derived videos.
Called “deepfakes,” the AI videos are increasingly common in political ads around the country. The new ads in Kentucky come despite a state law passed last year intended to regulate their usage against political candidates.
Allies of Massie and Gallrein have both criticized the deepfake ads and blamed each other for them, though they were created by PACs independent of their campaigns. Both PACs attempt to portray the opposing candidate as insufficiently loyal to President Donald Trump, who endorsed Gallrein and rallied for him in March.
The new ad attacking Massie from MAGA KY PAC shows a fake video of him holding hands with Democratic congressional members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar as they check into a hotel, implying they go into a room together. The first words on the screen read “Thomas Massie caught in a throuple!”
In white letters at the bottom of the ad, which includes faked CCTV footage and tabloid-style photos, it states “This satirical ad was created with artificial intelligence.”
After appearing at a KET debate Monday, which Gallrein snubbed, Massie said the ad attacking him is “beyond the pale” and called it a sign of desperation.
Read the rest at LPM News.
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