Fake AI-generated videos have been spreading lies about the vice presidential candidate.
Mira Lazine at LGBTQ Nation:
A Kremlin-backed propaganda network is allegedly behind a disinformation campaign targeting Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz, spreading false rumors that he sexually assaulted former students, according to WIRED. Various experts allege that the network Storm-1516 is behind these efforts. This network is tied to many false claims, including one that alleged Kamala Harris committed a hit-and-run in 2011. The misinformation campaign against Walz has primarily taken place within the past few weeks. Deepfakes and anonymous allegations were spread against the former football coach stemming exclusively from QAnon accounts and shared by other far-right sources. These have been shared by right-wing figures like Trump campaigner Jack Posobiec and activist Candace Owens. The most recent claim stole information from a former student of Walz to craft an elaborate deepfake that alleges Walz sexually assaulted him. The video was quickly identified by users on X as fake, and even the man depicted in the video spoke out to say it was entirely fabricated.
[...] Storm-1516 typically creates an account on social media that gets tapped into the far-right network. It then spreads fake information to dupe users into sharing stories they believe come from whistleblowers or citizen journalists. Linvill says they often utilize X and YouTube to place stories. Much of this traces back to John Dougan, an ex-Floridian cop who now works with the Kremlin to spread disinformation. Dougan helped spread the initial false claims about Walz, appearing with an anonymous man, “Rick,” who claims to be a former student. Dougan runs numerous fake news websites used by Storm-1516.
Minnesota Gov. and Kamala Harris VP pick Tim Walz (D) is the victim of a deepfake campaign backed by Russia that is pushing false accusations about Walz “sexually assaulting” former students.
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LGBTQ Nation: The far right spreads fake AI-generated video falsely claiming Tim Walz molested a gay student
