Watch: Deepfake AI video 'disgraceful attempt to mislead voters', Connolly says
Eva Osborne
Presidential candidate Catherine Conolly has said a deepfake AI video purporting to show her withdrawing from the election is a "disgraceful attempt to mislead voters".
The video, which was designed to look like an RTÉ news bulletin, was viewed almost 30,000 times before Facebook removed it.
It was posted to an account called RTÉ News AI, The Irish Times reported.
The video was live for nearly 12 hours before it was removed, and was one of several videos related to the presidential election on the account in question.
Meta, which owns Facebook, removed the RTÉ News AI account on Wednesday after being contacted by the Irish Independent.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Connolly condemned the video as entirely false and malicious.
“I am absolutely still a candidate for President of Ireland. The video is a fabrication. It is a disgraceful attempt to mislead voters and undermine our democracy," she said.
"I will not be distracted. I will continue my campaign in every county, meeting people and making the case for a hopeful, inclusive presidency.”
The Connolly campaign has reported the video to the social media platforms where it appeared, requesting its immediate removal and clear labelling as fake.
A formal complaint has been lodged with the Electoral Commission, the campaign said.
Catherine Connolly said disinformation has no place in Irish public life and urged members of the public to verify content before sharing.
“If you see this video, do not share it - report it. The surest reply to lies is to vote," she said.
The Connolly campaign is also calling on social media platforms to act "swiftly and responsibly" to remove fake election content, to apply clear labels to AI-generated media, and to fully cooperate with the relevant authorities by preserving metadata and assisting investigations to identify those responsible for producing and distributing the false material.
Coimisiún na Meán, the agency which regulates media in Ireland, confirmed it was aware of the video, according to The Irish Times.
“An Coimisiún have contacted the platform concerned to understand the immediate measures they have taken in response to this incident and have reminded the platform of their obligations under the EU Digital Services Act relating to protecting the integrity of elections,” a spokesman said.
