AI Deception Rocks Irish Presidential Election

Disgraceful Deepfake Video Targets Presidential Candidate

Irish presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has filed a formal complaint with the Electoral Commission following the circulation of a "malicious deep-fake" AI video. The video, which emerged online Tuesday night, featured a synthetic version of Connolly falsely announcing she was withdrawing from Friday's election.

Connolly described the video as a "disgraceful attempt to mislead voters and undermine our democracy."

Connolly Remains Defiant and Urges Voter Action

In a firm statement, the independent TD confirmed she is "absolutely" still in the race to become Ireland's 10th president. "I will not be distracted," she declared. "I will continue my campaign in every county, meeting people and making the case for a hopeful, inclusive presidency."

Her campaign team has reported the video to the social media platforms where it was shared, demanding its immediate removal and clear identification as fake. Connolly urged the public not to share the video if they encounter it. "Report it," she advised, "the surest reply to lies is to vote."

Expert Analysis Reveals Telltale Signs of AI

Alan Smeaton, an emeritus professor of computing at Dublin City University and a member of Ireland's AI Advisory Council, told BBC Verify that while sophisticated, the video contained "minuscule clues" of its artificial nature.

He pointed to "slight over-pronunciations in the lips and mouths" of both the AI-generated Connolly and the fake reporter. Smeaton also noted a "slight aura" around the reporter, likely an artifact from the AI process. A major giveaway, however, was the video's outlandish final claim that the election was cancelled and another candidate had won by default. This, Smeaton suggested, should have been a "red flag for most people." He criticized the reactive approach of social media platforms, stating, "The whack-a-mole approach of taking such videos down... is not working."

Who is Catherine Connolly

Catherine Connolly has served as an independent TD for the Galway West constituency since 2016 and previously held the position of deputy speaker in the Dáil, the Irish parliament. A former member of the Irish Labour Party, she quit after a dispute over running in the 2007 general election. She has been endorsed in her presidential bid by a coalition of left-leaning parties and several independent politicians.