Peggy Flanagan Accuses Pro-Angie Craig PAC Of Using AI Deepfake In TV Ad - Patch

In October 2024, Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan publicly accused the North Star Dawn PAC, a group supporting U.S. Representative Angie Craig, of utilizing an AI-generated deepfake of her likeness in a television advertisement. Flanagan stated that the advertisement was designed to mislead voters because her opponent could not win using the truth.

What happened

The controversy centers on a television advertisement produced by the North Star Dawn PAC. According to reports from KARE 11, the video features an AI-generated version of Lieutenant Governor Flanagan depicted with a pile of cash. Flanagan addressed the incident on Wednesday, asserting that the PAC is resorting to digital fabrications to influence the election.

While the advertisement was attributed to the super PAC, Representative Angie Craig’s official campaign distanced itself from the content, informing KARE 11 that she does not support the use of artificial intelligence in election advertising. Both Craig and Flanagan are Democrats currently running for a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota. The incident highlights the growing concern surrounding digital manipulation in politics, particularly as Minnesota has enacted laws that restrict certain election-related deepfakes. These regulations apply when content is shared without the consent of the depicted individual, with the intent to injure a candidate or influence the outcome of an election during specific time periods.