Wayne Sturge AI media incident — Nov 2026

The Ministry of Defence in Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed that artificial intelligence and face-swapping technology were utilized to create deceptive videos impersonating Defence Minister Wayne Sturge. These recordings, which falsely alleged sexual misconduct, were circulated on social media and traced to a foreign-registered account and telephone number not associated with the minister.

What happened

The impersonation campaign involved sophisticated digital manipulation to deceive victims. One woman reported being contacted via WhatsApp before receiving a video call where she saw a face she recognized as Minister Sturge, accompanied by a voice that sounded similar to his. She initially believed the interaction was genuine before discovering she had been deceived by AI-generated content.

Following an investigation by the ministry’s Information and Technology Unit, officials confirmed that the minister’s own devices and accounts were not the source of the content. The ministry noted that these allegations have resurfaced periodically on politically aligned social media accounts since the previous year. The woman who came forward estimated that nearly 30 other women may have been targeted in a similar manner. She spoke publicly to warn others about the impersonation, expressing concern that her own testimony was being misrepresented online to further the false narrative of misconduct. The ministry has advised the public to exercise caution regarding communications claiming to be from the minister and to report suspicious activity to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.