DocumentedDeepfake Political DisinformationSeptember 28, 2023Slovakia

Slovakia Deepfake Audio Before 2023 Election

Two days before the September 30 election, during Slovakia's 48-hour electoral silence period, a deepfake audio spread on Telegram and Facebook showing Šimečka and Tódová discussing vote rigging via Roma votes. A prior deepfake falsely showed President Čaputová endorsing far-right candidate Milan Mazurek. Russia's SVR simultaneously released statements accusing the US of interfering for Progressive Slovakia.

AI system:Unknown AI voice cloning (pro-Kremlin-linked actors suspected)

Impact

Šimečka lost despite leading pre-election polls; pro-Russian Robert Fico won. Widely considered the first European election potentially influenced by AI deepfakes.

Outcome

No perpetrator identified. Case directly shaped EU AI Act deepfake labeling provisions and Code of Practice on Disinformation.

Sources

  1. Source 1International Press Instituteipi.media/slovakia-deepfake-audio-of-dennik-n-journalist-offers-worrying-example-of-ai-abuse/
  2. Source 2CNNwww.cnn.com/2024/02/01/politics/election-deepfake-threats-invs
  3. Source 3VSquare investigationvsquare.org/slovak-election-targeted-by-pro-kremlin-deepfake-hoax/
  4. Source 4Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Reviewmisinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/beyond-the-deepfake-hype-ai-democracy-and-the-slovak-case/

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