Likely illegal, AI-generated attack ad depicts Republican Michael Cathcart as a liberal villain…

In October 2024, an anonymous, likely illegal attack mailer targeting Spokane City Councilman and county auditor candidate Michael Cathcart began circulating. The advertisement utilized AI-generated imagery to depict Cathcart as various cinematic villains, including the Joker, Hannibal Lecter, Voldemort, and Freddy Krueger, to frame him as a liberal figure.

What happened

The mailer, which lacked any return address, bulk mail permit, or disclosure of its financial sponsor, attempted to characterize Cathcart as a "liberal Hollywood villain." It utilized AI-synthesized imagery to replace Cathcart’s likeness into scenes alongside depictions of Democratic politicians Vicki Dalton and Betsy Wilkerson. The content of the ad accused Cathcart of being an actor, supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and criticized his past voting record regarding COVID-19 mask mandates.

Under state law, candidates are permitted to sue sponsors of AI-generated "deepfakes" if the use of such technology is not disclosed. Additionally, Washington state law generally requires political attack ads to clearly state their origin and funding. Despite these regulations, the mailer contained no disclaimer, making it difficult to track the source. Various local political figures, including Cathcart’s opponents and the Spokane County GOP Chair, denied any involvement in the creation or distribution of the material. Cathcart expressed frustration over the lack of accountability, noting that while the imagery was cartoonish, the anonymity of the attack was disheartening. The incident highlights the challenges of enforcing transparency in political campaigning as the use of artificial intelligence to manipulate candidate imagery becomes more prevalent.