U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden Criticized for Using AI Deepfakes Against Political Opponent
U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a Republican from Wisconsin, has faced criticism for repeatedly posting deepfake videos of his Democratic challenger, Rebecca Cooke. One such video depicted a fabricated version of Cooke making controversial statements, accompanied by Van Orden's caption, 'I wish this was a joke.' While not explicitly illegal, these actions are seen as undermining the intent of Wisconsin's state law, which specifically targets AI-generated deepfake videos in political advertising. The law, signed by Gov. Tony Evers in March 2024, requires political videos containing synthetic media to include a clear written disclosure: 'This video content generated by AI.' Van Orden's deepfake videos, however, lack this explicit on-screen language, though the platform X (formerly Twitter) includes a small print stating 'Made with Grok imaging.' Critics argue that Van Orden's use of deepfakes raises ethical concerns about the use of AI in political campaigns and the potential for misleading voters. 
