Texas Lieutenant Governor Candidate Accuses Incumbent of Deepfake Law Violation

The Democratic candidate for Texas lieutenant governor, state Representative Vikki Goodwin, filed a police report accusing Republican incumbent Dan Patrick of breaching the state’s deep-fake prohibition. The complaint focuses on two advertisements released by Patrick’s campaign earlier this month that featured AI-generated video clips portraying Goodwin describing policies she never voiced. Goodwin’s filing alleges that the ads constitute a criminal use of synthetic media under Texas law.

New York Times

Texas law makes it a crime to produce or disseminate deep-fake videos of political candidates within 30 days of an election. The statute is intended to curb deceptive AI content that could mislead voters as election day approaches. Patrick’s ads were posted on his social-media accounts during the first two weeks of the month, placing their release more than 30 days before the November election. Because of this timing, authorities have not yet determined whether the ads fall within the statutory window.

New York Times

Goodwin submitted an affidavit with the police report, asserting that the videos falsely represent her statements and labeling the conduct “outrageous” and criminal. No public comment from Dan Patrick or his campaign has been recorded in the available sources.

New York Times

• “Although the ‘person’ in the video appears to be me, it was not actually me,” — Ms. Goodwin

New York Times

Political campaigns nationwide have increasingly employed AI to generate attack ads ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. While the technology offers new avenues for messaging, Goodwin’s filing is among the few documented attempts to seek criminal penalties for an AI-driven attack. The case highlights ongoing uncertainty about how existing election-integrity statutes apply to rapidly evolving synthetic-media tactics.

New York Times