Deepfakes Go Global: AI Fakes Target Elections in Nepal, Spark Worldwide Alarm

Deepfakes Go Global: AI Fakes Target Elections in Nepal, Spark Worldwide Alarm A new wave of artificially generated "deepfake" videos is threatening to destabilize elections and distort public debate from South Asia to the West, as the technology becomes cheaper and more accessible. The danger was starkly illustrated in Nepal last year, when a fabricated video showing three top political figures meeting went viral online ahead of national elections [57866]. The clip, which used artificial intelligence (AI) to digitally forge the likenesses of the politicians, was completely false but successfully spread rumors of a major new alliance. Experts warn such deepfakes, which can make it appear a person said or did something they never did, pose a severe threat to democratic processes by misleading voters [57866]. The problem is not confined to one region. In the United States, political strategists are highlighting a shift toward campaigns dominated by digital media savvy and crafted public images, a landscape ripe for AI manipulation [58393]. The concern is that future elections could be swayed by convincing fake content that spreads faster than fact-checkers can respond. In Turkey, a jailed mayor emphasized that "Democracy is not only the day of the election," but requires the daily protection of the public will—a principle undermined by AI-driven disinformation [58345]. Similarly, in Bangladesh, the formation of a new, complex political alliance shows how quickly coalitions can shift, a volatility that deepfakes could exploit to create false narratives and sow discord [56551]. Political analysts are calling for urgent public awareness campaigns, arguing that teaching media literacy is now a critical part of defending democracy [57866]. Without clear methods to label or detect AI-generated fakes, voters globally may increasingly struggle to distinguish real news from digital fiction. Fake Leaders, Real Fear: AI Deepfakes Target Nepal Election The Democrats' Secret Weapon Is 26 Jailed Turkish Mayor: "Democracy is Not Just Election Day" Islamist Parties Forge Unprecedented Political Alliance in Bangladesh