Political party in my city claims these posters are not AI
An investigation into the use of generative AI in Tamil Nadu politics, focusing on the controversial deepfake of late leader C N Annadurai.
- Incident date
- Aug 2026
- Target
- C N Annadurai
In 2026, the political landscape of Tamil Nadu witnessed a significant shift as generative AI became a primary tool for campaign strategy and messaging. A pivotal moment occurred six months prior to the election when an AI-generated video surfaced on social media, featuring the late Chief Minister C N Annadurai. In the clip, the deceased leader appeared to urge actor-politician Vijay to take the lead using his iconic slogan. This incident served as an early example of AI-driven political content in the region, triggering immediate ethical debates and a competitive response from rival political factions.
What happened
The deepfake of C N Annadurai was among the first widely reported uses of generative AI ahead of the 2026 Assembly election. The video depicted the late politician delivering a specific political message, which drew sharp criticism from opposing parties. The DMK, tracing its ideological roots to Annadurai, responded within 24 hours by releasing its own AI-assisted content featuring both Periyar and Annadurai. Party functionaries used this counter-response to accuse their rivals of appropriating Dravidian legacy through synthetic media.
Following this exchange, the use of AI transitioned from a fringe experiment to a standard campaign tool. Political parties began utilizing automated subtitles, AI-generated music, and synthetic backgrounds across official social media channels. The technology was further employed to generate defamatory content, including deepfake videos that placed political leaders into compromising or comic settings. While parties have filed police complaints regarding the misuse of these tools, officials note that the creators often remain difficult to trace due to the accessibility of software such as Stable Diffusion, ElevenLabs, and DeepFaceLab. Beyond messaging, AI has evolved into a strategic "think tank" for campaigns, assisting in data analysis, manifesto development, and the creation of targeted outreach strategies for specific demographics.