GOP rep, Pritzker targeted with AI photo, death threats…

Following an appearance at the DuQuoin State Fair on August 28, 2024, an AI-manipulated photograph of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and State Representative Dave Severin circulated online, falsely implying a political endorsement. The manipulated image, which depicted the two officials in a friendly pose, drew significant backlash and threats against the Republican lawmaker.

What happened

The incident began when Rep. Severin and Governor Pritzker posed for a legitimate photograph with a constituent at the fair. Someone subsequently used AI tools to alter the image, changing the body language of the subjects to appear as though Pritzker had his arm around Severin and both were giving a thumbs-up. The doctored photo replaced a fair logo in the background with illegible symbols, revealing the digital tampering.

This fraudulent image was posted to social media platforms, including Facebook, accompanied by a caption falsely suggesting that Severin was endorsing Pritzker for a third gubernatorial run. The post garnered over 500 comments, many of which contained hateful sentiment and direct threats against Severin. In response, the lawmaker publicly denounced the image as "100% bogus," clarifying that he does not support the Governor and maintains his endorsement of Darren Bailey. Governor Pritzker has previously spoken out against the use of AI in politics, advocating for mandatory watermarking on AI-generated content to ensure transparency for the public.