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Jordan Peele Deepfake of President Obama

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Jordan Peele Deepfake of President Obama

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In 2018, actor and filmmaker Jordan Peele collaborated with BuzzFeed to create a deepfake video where former President Barack Obama appears to deliver a public service announcement. In reality, Peele provided the voice, demonstrating how deepfakes can convincingly alter public figures' speeches.

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Jordan Peele uses AI, President Obama in fake news PSA

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In May 2023, a manipulated video of Vice President Kamala Harris circulated online. This deepfake was designed to undermine her credibility and spread misinformation about her capabilities. Fact-checkers and media outlets quickly debunked the video, emphasizing the importance of verifying content before sharing.

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A fake Kamala Harris campaign ad using a manipulated version of her voice has become a flash point in the escalating debate over how to treat manipulated media - often referred to as deepfakes - ahead of the 2024 election.

The fake Harris audio, recirculated by Elon Musk in a post that has been seen more than 150 million times, includes digs about diversity, President Joe Biden and border policies, as well as edited clips from real Harris appearances.

But reactions to the deepfake of Harris have been divided, with some saying it's an example of a dangerous type of manipulated media that needs tight regulation, and others saying it's a clear example of parody and thus deserves a different type of treatment.

"This is one of the most prominent political deepfakes to circulate so far, it concerns a major presidential candidate, and the misleading synthetic audio was reposted by the owner of the platform," Lisa Gilbert, co-president of nonprofit consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen, told NBC News. "The stakes are really high."

A representative for Harris' campaign confirmed to NBC News that the audio was fake and that the video was not a real campaign ad.

"We believe the American people want the real freedom, opportunity, and security Vice President Harris is offering; not the fake, manipulated lies of Elon Musk and Donald Trump," the campaign representative said in a statement.

Other deepfake videos and images, many of which are created with generative artificial intelligence tools, have targeted politicians such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., with fake sexually suggestive images and pornographic videos, or used their likenesses, including former President Donald Trump's, to create scam advertisements.

AI-generated images have also depicted Trump running from police and being arrested and were used alongside headlines about his arrest.

But alongside those deceptions, other deepfakes have appeared to be, or have been framed as, satirical political expression, leading to divided reactions.

Ahead of Biden's address to the nation discussing his decision not to run for re-election, a deepfake video that depicted him cursing and using a slur for gay people was posted on X, where it still remains up with more than 20 million views and no clear label indicating that it is fake. The video included a PBS News logo and a creator watermark.

PBS released a statement debunking the deepfake of Biden, writing: "We do not condone altering news video or audio in any way that could mislead the audience."

Despite the lack of a label on the Biden deepfake video, many replies said that it was clearly fake and questioned whether a note was even needed to disclose that it was AI-generated.

Many social media platforms, including X, have policies against sharing synthetic and manipulated media in an attempt to misinform audiences. Some posts on X that include deepfakes have been labeled as such by the platform even if the person posting them doesn't clarify they are manipulated.

X also allows parody accounts, as long as they "distinguish themselves in their account name and in their bio." The platform does not have specific rules around individual posts that constitute parody. Other major social media platforms, like Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, have a manipulated media policy that doesn't apply to satire and parody. X doesn't differentiate between posts that are parody or not in its manipulated media policy.

Deepfakes have largely been met with concern and criticism, being inherently misleading and oftentimes used to harass people, sexually and otherwise. Audio deepfakes have been used in attempts to misinform potential voters, most notably when a robocall in New Hampshire used a deepfake of Biden's voice to tell registered Democrats not to vote in the state primary. The political consultant behind the call faces criminal charges and a $6 million fine.

The fake Harris ad has inspired similar outcry and criticism, but the content and context of the video are very different from the Biden robocall.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to Musk's post sharing the video by saying that "Manipulating a voice in an 'ad' like this one should be illegal" and adding that he plans to sign a state bill into law that would prohibit it. As many as 18 states have already passed regulations on AI deepfakes in elections, according to Public Citizen's tracker, and six states have pending legislation. Federal legislation has also been proposed by Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

The existing state legislation around realistic AI deepfakes used to influence elections varies, with some states, like Texas, making it a criminal offense and others, like Utah, instituting civil penalties. Several of the laws allow AI deepfakes in election materials as long as they are clearly labeled. Some of the laws make specific exceptions for parodies, some only apply to official campaign or PAC materials, and some only apply within 30 days of an election, among other variations.

After speaking out against Musk's post, Klobuchar said she is re-upping an attempt in the Senate to push through federal legislation that would similarly ban "deceptive deepfakes of federal candidates" and "require disclaimers on AI-generated political ads."

In a response to Newsom, Musk wrote in part that "parody is legal in America."

Neither X nor Musk responded to separate requests for comment.

Free speech and civil liberties experts who spoke with NBC News agree that the video should be considered protected speech.

"It's clear satire or parody," said Aaron Terr, director of public advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. "Humor, mockery and exaggeration have long been effective tools for criticizing the powerful and highlighting absurdities in our politics and culture, and the First Amendment recognizes that."

The fake Harris audio was originally created and posted on YouTube by a conservative content creator with a description labeling it as "significantly edited or digitally generated." The YouTuber who created the video also prominently labeled it as a parody on X, but Musk's post does not share any indication that the video is manipulated.

"There's a question as to whether or not it violated X's own policies," said Lou Steinberg, founder of cybersecurity research lab CTM Insights. "The rules are soft at the edges for some people."

Public Citizen called on Musk to take the fake audio of Harris down and has petitioned the Federal Election Commission to regulate the use of generative AI deepfakes in election ads, on which the FEC remains undecided.

David Greene, the civil liberties director and senior staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said that a law against circulating deceptive media would "have constitutional problems."

"You hate to agree with Elon Musk, but parody is protected speech," he said, comparing the video to viral hoaxes spread online over the past week about Trump's VP pick, Sen. JD Vance. Despite the growing sophistication of audio deepfakes, which can easily fool listeners, Greene said "it's still important to have protection for commentary and parody."

"Just because there are First Amendment barriers doesn't mean that other tools aren't available, like calling this out," he added.

In addition to using fake audio, the video Musk shared plays on conservative talking points about Harris and Democrats, such as calling her a "diversity hire" for being a woman of color, as well as promoting the conspiracy theory that she is a "deep state puppet."

Dhanaraj Thakur, research director at the Center for Democracy and Technology, said he would categorize the video as disinformation, "because there is intent to deceive."

"It incorporates elements of misogyny and racism," he said. "It follows a playbook that researchers have often observed when it comes to how women candidates, broadly speaking, are treated online."

In 2022, Thakur authored a research paper that found political candidates in the U.S. who are women of color endure the most severe online abuse, misinformation and disinformation compared to other candidates, based on an analysis of tweets during the 2020 election period.

In the past two weeks, Musk has pivoted to fully endorse Trump and advocate against Harris, using his position as CEO of X and the most-followed person on the platform to push inflammatory rhetoric about the 2024 election.

"If this kind of posting continues, he could individually make an impact in the election that is really significant and severe," Gilbert said.

While Musk is the most visible person on X, Steinberg noted that foreign entities outside the reach of U.S. laws are also able to post disinformation and deepfakes on the platform.

"There are an awful lot of people who have an awful lot of interest in either creating bias or creating confusion," Steinberg said. "While this ad may be tongue-in-cheek, we're at the very beginning of what's probably going to be our first election with a significant amount of AI-generated disinformation."

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How Elon Musk and a Kamala Harris deepfake ad sparked a debate about free speech and parody

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A fake Kamala Harris campaign ad using a manipulated version of her voice has become a flashpoint for the escalating debate over how to treat manipulated media.

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Facebook Refuses to Remove Deepfake of House Speaker Pelosi

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Facebook Refuses to Remove Deepfake of House Speaker Pelosi

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In 2019, a manipulated video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was circulated, making her appear impaired by slowing down her speech. This example highlights how even simple edits can be misleading and are sometimes mistakenly labeled as deepfakes.

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Another doctored video of Nancy Pelosi goes viral on Facebook, but company won’t take it down

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Despite being labeled as partly false, the video remains up on Facebook.

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Parkland Shooting Survivor Deepfake Goes Viral

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Parkland Shooting Survivor Deepfake Goes Viral

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In March 2018, following the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, survivor and activist Emma González participated in a "Teen Vogue" photoshoot. During the shoot, she was captured tearing a paper shooting target. However, this image was maliciously altered to depict her tearing up the U.S. Constitution, leading to widespread misinformation. This incident underscores the potential of doctored media to mislead the public and tarnish reputations.

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Fake Image of Emma González Tearing Constitution Goes Viral | What's Trending Now!

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Scarlett Johansson has been repeatedly victimized by deepfake technology. In February 2025, a manipulated video falsely depicted her alongside other Jewish Hollywood figures wearing protest shirts against Kanye West. Johansson condemned the misuse of AI for amplifying hate speech and emphasized the urgent need for regulatory measures.

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Scarlett Johansson Urges Government to Limit A.I. After Faked Video of Her Opposing Kanye West Goes Viral

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Scarlett Johansson is urging lawmakers to enact legislation limiting A.I. after an unauthorized A.I. video of her and other Jewish celebrities opposing Kanye has gone viral

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BBC presenter Naga Munchetty discovered fake nude images of herself circulating on social media platforms. These images were linked to scams promoting fraudulent financial opportunities via counterfeit news articles. Munchetty expressed deep concern over the violation and highlighted the challenges individuals face in combating such digital abuses.

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Naga Munchetty: I found fake nudes of myself online

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When the BBC presenter discovered that explicit images purporting to be of her were circulating, she was shocked. The story behind them made her furious. By Georgina Roberts

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In September 2024, Taylor Swift publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president. Concurrently, she warned about AI-generated fake endorsements, including a fabricated video of her supporting Donald Trump. Swift's actions underscored the broader issue of AI-driven misinformation in political contexts.

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There’s Another Key Message in Swift’s Harris Endorsement

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Taylor Swift’s Instagram post endorsing Harris was just as focused on warning the public about the dangers of AI.

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"Deepfake Musk" Leads to Billions in Fraudulant Scam Operation

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"Deepfake Musk" Leads to Billions in Fraudulant Scam Operation

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Deepfake videos featuring Elon Musk have been used in cryptocurrency scams, misleading viewers into fraudulent investments. These scams highlight the ease with which deepfakes can be employed to exploit individuals financially.

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Scammers commonly use the likeness of Elon Musk to make deepfakes. Video contains AI-generated content.

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Fraudsters used AI-generated audio to mimic a CEO's voice, instructing a subordinate to transfer €220,000 to a fraudulent account. This case underscores the potential of deepfakes in facilitating sophisticated financial scams.

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Anonymous hacker programmer uses a laptop to hack the system in the dark. Creation and infection of ... [+]
Getty

It's the first noted instance of an artificial intelligence-generated voice deepfake used in a scam.

Phone scams are nothing new, but the mark usually isn't an accomplished CEO.

According to a new report in The Wall Street Journal, the CEO of an unnamed UK-based energy firm believed he was on the phone with his boss, the chief executive of firm's the German parent company, when he followed the orders to immediately transfer €220,000 (approx. $243,000) to the bank account of a Hungarian supplier.

In fact, the voice belonged to a fraudster using AI voice technology to spoof the German chief executive. Rüdiger Kirsch of Euler Hermes Group SA, the firm's insurance company, shared the information with WSJ. He explained that the CEO recognized the subtle German accent in his boss's voice-and moreover that it carried the man's "melody."

According to Kirsch, the of yet unidentified fraudster called the company three times: the first to initiate the transfer, the second to falsely claim it had been reimbursed, and a third time seeking a followup payment. It was at this point that the victim grew skeptical; he could see that the purported reimbursement had not gone through, and he noticed that the the call had been made from an Austrian phone number.

While he did not send a second payment, the first had already transferred, which was moved from the Hungarian bank account to one in Mexico, and then disbursed to other locations.

Earlier this summer, researchers from Dessa, an AI company based in Toronto, produced a simulation of popular podcaster and comedian Joe Rogan's voice:

Kirsch told WSJ that he believes commercial software in the vein of that used by Dessa was used to spoof the German executives voice-which, if true, makes this the first known instance of AI voice mimicry being used for fraud (though it is of course possible other such instances have occurred).

The fraud in question purportedly occurred in March, two months before Dessa's video went viral.

Because no suspects have been identified, little is known about what software they used or how they gathered the voice data necessary to spoof the German executive-but this case reveals one of the many possible ways machine learning can be weaponized.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.

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A Voice Deepfake Was Used To Scam A CEO Out Of $243,000

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Phone scams are nothing new, but the mark usually isn't an accomplished CEO. According to a new report in The Wall Street Journal , the CEO of an unnamed UK-based energy firm believed he was on the phone with his boss, the chief executive of firm's the German parent company, when he followed the orders to immediately transfer €220,000 (approx.

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In January 2025, journalist Georgina Findlay recounted a disturbing experience in The Guardian, detailing how her AI-cloned voice was utilized in far-right propaganda videos without her consent. As a presenter on a YouTube news channel, Findlay was accustomed to hearing her voice in media. However, she was shocked to discover that her synthetically replicated voice was being used to disseminate hateful and misleading content. This incident underscores the growing prevalence of AI voice cloning technology and its potential for misuse in spreading misinformation and undermining public trust. Findlay's experience highlights the urgent need for updated legal frameworks to protect individuals' vocal identities and to address the ethical implications of unauthorized AI-generated content.

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‘You’re gonna find this creepy’: my AI-cloned voice was used by the far right. Could I stop it? | Georgina Findlay

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It was chilling to hear ‘my voice’ repeating lies – and to discover that deepfake audio is a growing threat to democracy, says writer and presenter Georgina Findlay

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Deepfake "News Anchors" Spread Propaganda and Fake News

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Deepfake "News Anchors" Spread Propaganda and Fake News

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The People Onscreen Are Fake. The Disinformation Is Real.

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For the first time, A.I.-generated personas, often used for corporate trainings, were detected in a state-aligned information campaign — opening a new chapter in online manipulation.

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Tom (@deeptomcruise) on TikTok | 15.6M Likes. 4M Followers. Parody & younger.Watch the latest video from Tom (@deeptomcruise).

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And the ethical uncertainty around use of someone's likeness 

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And the ethical uncertainty around use of someone's likeness 

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computer science and information technology

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How a deepfake Tom Cruise on TikTok turned into a very real AI company | CNN Business

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Earlier this year, videos of Tom Cruise started popping up on TikTok of the actor doing some surprisingly un-Tom-Cruise-like stuff: goofing around in an upscale men's clothing store; showing off a coin trick; growling playfully during a short rendition of Dave Matthews Band's "Crash Into Me."

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In March 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a deepfake video surfaced depicting President Zelenskyy allegedly instructing Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms and surrender. This fabricated video was disseminated on social media and even infiltrated a Ukrainian news website. However, it was swiftly debunked, and platforms like Facebook and YouTube removed the content to prevent further spread

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A fake and heavily manipulated video depicting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy circulated on social media and was placed on a Ukrainian news website by hackers Wednesday before it was debunked and removed.

The video, which shows a rendering of the Ukrainian president appearing to tell his soldiers to lay down their arms and surrender the fight against Russia, is a so-called deepfake that ran about a minute long.

It is not yet clear who created the deepfake, but government officials in Ukraine have been warning for weeks about the possibility of Russia spreading manipulated videos as part of its information warfare. Ukraine's military intelligence agency released a video this month about how state-sponsored deepfakes could be used to sow panic and confusion.

While the video shows a passable lip-sync, viewers quickly pointed out that Zelenskyy's accent was off and that his head and voice did not appear authentic upon close inspection.

Officials at Facebook, YouTube and Twitter said the video was removed from their platforms for violating policies. On Russian social media, meanwhile, the deceptive video was boosted.

"This is the first one we've seen that really got some legs, but I suspect it's the tip of the iceberg," said Hany Farid, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley who is an expert in digital media forensics.

A deepfake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calling on his soldiers to lay down their weapons was reportedly uploaded to a hacked Ukrainian news website today, per @Shayan86 pic.twitter.com/tXLrYECGY4
- Mikael Thalen (@MikaelThalen) March 16, 2022

In a video posted to his Telegram channel, Zelenskyy responded to the fake video by saying: "We are defending our land, our children, our families. So we don't plan to lay down any arms. Until our victory."

The message was not just displayed across social media, however. It also appeared briefly on television in Ukraine and on a news broadcaster's website.

The national television station Ukraine 24 confirmed that hackers managed to send the fake Zelenskyy message across live television on the scrolling-text news crawl known as "the ticker," and the video showed up briefly on the news station's website. It was the work of "enemy hackers," the station said.

The messages the hackers managed to broadcast through Ukraine 24 urged Ukrainians to stop fighting and give up their weapons. They also falsely stated that Zelenskyy had fled Kyiv, according to the Atlantic Council's Eurasia researcher Roman Osadchuk.

The messages were amplified on VKontakte, the social network comparable to Facebook that is popular in Russia and controlled by allies of the Kremlin, Osadchuk noted.

Researchers said that despite the deepfake not being particularly sophisticated, it should still be considered dangerous.

"The deepfake is not very well done," said Sam Gregory of the human rights group Witness, which specializes in detecting inauthentic media in crises.

He said the Ukrainian government getting out in front of the deepfake by warning about manipulated videos weeks before this one was released, as well as Zelenskyy himself quickly saying it was a fake, helped slow its spread in the West, but it is possible that lower-quality versions of the video could take on a life of their own in other parts of the world.

"If you look at other contexts globally where the deepfake is poor quality, or of good enough quality to create room for doubt, and it's not so easy to challenge it directly," Gregory said.

Furthermore, the video, regardless of where it came from and its quality, could potentially make some people question the veracity of videos of Zelenskyy in the future, researchers said.

"The particular issue is also around the so-called liar's dividend, where it's easy to claim a true video is falsified and place the onus on people to prove it's authentic," Gregory said.

Farid added: "It pollutes the information ecosystem, and it casts a shadow on all content, which is already dealing with the complex fog of war," he said. "The next time the president goes on television, some people might think, 'Wait a minute - is this real?' "

A Twitter spokeswoman said the company will allow the video in instances where it was shared to expose it as a fake. But if the video is being posted to deceive people, it will be taken down, the company said.
NPR's Shannon Bond contributed to this report.

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Deepfake video of Zelenskyy could be 'tip of the iceberg' in info war, experts warn

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A fake video of the Ukrainian president claiming defeat spread on social media on Wednesday.