Story perspectives

Political Deepfakes Surge: 1,000 Incidents Since 2025

3/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Since 2025, researchers report political deepfakes have risen, with over 1,000 incidents cataloged, versus 1,344 in eight years prior.
AI is used to create deepfakes of fake military personnel and political figures, influencing public perception.
AI-generated avatar Jessica Foster gained followings on social media.
The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity proposed labeling standards for AI-generated content.
Instagram and Meta have inconsistently implemented these measures, raising concerns about effectiveness.

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Story summary

Since 2025, researchers report political deepfakes have risen, with over 1,000 incidents cataloged, versus 1,344 in eight years prior.
AI is used to create deepfakes of fake military personnel and political figures, influencing public perception.
AI-generated avatar Jessica Foster gained followings on social media.
The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity proposed labeling standards for AI-generated content.
Instagram and Meta have inconsistently implemented these measures, raising concerns about effectiveness.