Full Breakdown
AI-Generated Political Ads Surge Ahead of Midterms, Prompting New Disclosure Rules
By Drooid · · How we work
AI-Generated Ads Surge in 2024 Elections
The Wesleyan Media Project identified at least 220 political advertisements this cycle that were created or enhanced with generative artificial intelligence, costing just under $137 million. Spending on such ads rose from under $50,000 during the 2024 presidential election to $20 million by May of this year. Only 27 % of the ads disclosed their AI origins, and roughly 30 states have some rule or requirement concerning AI in campaigns, according to project director Travis Ridout.
Scale and Impact of the Technology
Candidates are using AI to cut production costs and add novel imagery—examples include a deepfake of South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette taking a polygraph test that “caught fire,” and a fabricated video showing her opponent Alan Wilson rejecting a call from former President Donald Trump. In Minnesota, a deepfake of Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan surrounded by “mountains of money” circulated during the Senate primary. Ridout warned that such images can remain in voters’ minds and may generate misinformation that could even trigger violence.
Local and Federal Regulatory Responses
Allegheny County Council unanimously approved an ordinance requiring candidates for county office to label AI-generated or substantially altered advertising. The rule, effective in January, imposes fines up to $300 or up to 30 days imprisonment for non-compliance and excludes AI-generated text or clearly fictional content. Councilmen Dan Grzybek and Alex Rose framed the measure as a safeguard against “abuses” while preserving First-Amendment rights.
At the state level, Minnesota’s 2023 bipartisan ban on AI use to influence elections sparked debate over its constitutionality. Federally, two bills are pending: one would mandate conspicuous AI disclosures in political ads, and the other would prohibit materially deceptive AI-generated content targeting federal candidates.
Verbatim Quotes
- “On the campaign trail, I would have people ask me, like, ‘Oh my gosh, did they really make you take a lie-detector test?’” — Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette
- “And that could be deceptive; voters could be basing their decisions on falsehoods in that case,” — Travis Ridout, professor, Washington State University
- “I think it’s here to stay. I don’t know that it’s going to go away,” — Pamela Evette
- “I do worry about the lasting impact of those images, even if people know that it might not be true,” — Travis Ridout
- “It’s a fast developing technology and industry, and government regulation is not keeping up with that, and it’s allowing for some abuses,” — Councilman Alex Rose