Can AI equalize political campaign ads – or will it…

A New York city council candidate faces criminal charges after utilizing AI to generate deceptive campaign content targeting his opponent, incumbent Democrat Lynn Schulman. This case highlights the growing legal and ethical tensions surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in political communication.

What happened

During his campaign in October 2024, candidate Jonathan Rinaldi used an AI chatbot to create false endorsements and fabricated news reports. Among the deceptive materials was a post shared on Facebook and Instagram that featured a fake CNN logo and falsely claimed that Schulman had dropped out of the race. The post stated she was forced to quit due to a series of critical mistakes, a claim that was entirely fabricated.

Beyond the false report about his opponent, Rinaldi’s social media accounts featured other AI-generated deceptions. These included an image showing Schulman wearing a specific T-shirt and videos of children chanting slogans supporting his own campaign, falsely suggesting endorsements from local groups, an elementary school, and a police precinct. When confronted by the founder of a Jewish advocacy group regarding a fake endorsement, Rinaldi defended his actions as political satire and protected speech.

On June 24, 2025, Rinaldi was arrested on misdemeanor forgery charges. While the laws used to charge him predate AI technology, this incident marks one of the first times a candidate has faced criminal penalties for using artificial intelligence in campaign messaging. The case underscores a broader national debate on whether existing regulations are sufficient to address the ability of AI to manufacture and amplify political misinformation at scale.