Pete Kilbane deepfake video — Oct 2026

A deepfake video was created depicting Pete Kilbane, the Labour deputy leader of the City of York Council, appearing to hand cash to individuals wearing balaclavas. The fabricated footage also featured an unspecified flag appearing behind him. Kilbane expressed shock upon viewing the video, characterizing the incident as an attempt to undermine democracy and render legitimate, factual debate impossible.

What happened

The incident involved the creation and dissemination of a deepfake video designed to misrepresent the actions of a public official. By depicting the deputy leader in a compromising situation involving cash and masked individuals, the attackers sought to damage his reputation and erode public trust. Experts note that such incidents contribute to a broader environment where trust in visual evidence is increasingly eroded, as the misuse of generative AI leads the public to question the authenticity of both manipulated and genuine media. This event highlights the growing challenge of distinguishing between reality and artificial content in political discourse.