Sen deepfake video — Oct 2026
A political action committee is using AI-generated videos to depict Vermont State Senator Ruth Hardy in fabricated scenarios to criticize her legislative.
- Reported date
- Oct 7, 2026
- Target
- Sen. Ruth Hardy
The exact incident date was not established. This entry is dated by its source report.
The political action committee Flip Vermont Red has utilized AI-generated media to target Vermont State Senator Ruth Hardy, creating realistic renderings of the legislator in fabricated scenarios. These videos are part of a broader trend of synthetic political content, often termed slopaganda, which has emerged following legal challenges to state regulations on AI-generated campaign materials. Senator Hardy, who was a lead sponsor of Vermont’s Act 75—a law intended to regulate synthetic media—has been the subject of at least 11 posts by the PAC.
What happened
Flip Vermont Red, founded by Curtis Hier, began its campaign against Senator Hardy with a post featuring a real image overlaid with text criticizing her support for Act 181. The PAC subsequently transitioned to AI-generated video content. One specific video depicts a realistic rendering of Senator Hardy installing signs labeled "REGULATED BY THE STATE OF VERMONT" on a farm property, followed by her handing a property tax bill to a farmer, which results in the farmer packing up their animals and equipment to leave. The video includes small, white text in the corner reading "AI made me do it."
Hier, who uses an Adobe Firefly subscription to produce AI imagery and outsources the production of the videos, has stated that the PAC does not include disclaimers on its posts. He maintains that the content is not deceptive or fraudulent, characterizing it as outlandish imagery or cartoons. While Vermont’s Act 75 requires disclaimers on "realistic" AI-generated content, the law includes a satire exemption. Similar exemptions have led to the striking down of comparable laws in other states, as courts have struggled to distinguish between protected political satire and deceptive practices. Senator Hardy has noted that while she does not believe the videos will impact her reelection, constituents have expressed that the content is inappropriate and inaccurate. She has suggested that the legislation may require further refinement in the next session to address the rapid advancement of the technology.