A viral AI-generated deepfake video falsely showed Donald Trump urging Nigeria to release detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, spreading misinformation about U.S. foreign policy on social media platforms.
A deepfake video circulated on social media platforms beginning November 16, 2024, falsely depicting U.S. President-elect Donald Trump calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The AI-generated video combined recycled visuals from a previous Trump speech with artificially generated audio mimicking his voice. In the fabricated content, Trump allegedly threatened to withdraw U.S. aid to Nigeria if Kanu was not released by 'November 31, 2024' (an impossible date that further exposed the fake). The video was first shared on TikTok and subsequently spread across X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, garnering thousands of views and comments. FactCheckAfrica conducted verification using reverse image and audio search tools, consulting with media experts and AI researchers who identified telltale signs of AI generation including eye-voice mismatches, unsynchronized lip movements, and tonal inconsistencies. No evidence was found of Trump making any such statements on his verified social media accounts or through reputable media outlets. The incident highlighted growing risks of AI-generated content being used to create false political narratives and influence public opinion around sensitive geopolitical issues.
Domain classification, causal taxonomy, severity scores, and national security assessments were LLM-classified and may contain errors.
Using AI systems to conduct large-scale disinformation campaigns, malicious surveillance, or targeted and sophisticated automated censorship and propaganda, with the aim of manipulating political processes, public opinion, and behavior.
AI system
Due to a decision or action made by an AI system
Intentional
Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal
Post-deployment
Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed