Russian military recruitment ad used AI-generated image of Navalny fighting in Ukraine - Новая…
A Russian military recruitment advertisement on VKontakte utilized AI-generated imagery depicting the late opposition leader Alexey Navalny to promote contract service
- Incident date
- Apr 2024
- Target
- Alexey Navalny
In April 2024, a recruitment banner for the Russian military appeared on the social media platform VKontakte, featuring AI-generated likenesses of the late opposition figure Alexey Navalny. The advertisement was identified by journalist Oleg Kashin within a group focused on military recruitment in Kaliningrad.
What happened
The banner ad promoted a military contract offering 7 million rubles for one year of service, suggesting the funds could be used to purchase an apartment. To illustrate this, the advertisement utilized two AI-generated images: one showing Navalny at the front in Ukraine and another depicting him smiling while holding keys to a new property.
Journalists from the outlet Agentstvo contacted the phone number provided in the advertisement to inquire about the unauthorized use of Navalny’s image. A representative responded by stating that the inclusion of the politician was an error, noting that "something went wrong with our marketing person's plan." The post was subsequently deleted from the platform.
The advertisement also directed users to the website of an organization called Heroes' Homeland, which facilitates recruitment for the Russian military. Research by the outlet Vot Tak indicated that the organization shares a headquarters address with the Rostov regional government and the regional Department for Cossack Affairs and Cadet Educational Institutions.
This incident is notable given that Russian authorities have previously penalized individuals for sharing photos of Navalny online, with some officials labeling his images as "extremist symbols." Despite these enforcement actions against the public, the use of his likeness in this state-linked recruitment campaign highlights a complex tension regarding the regulation of his imagery.