Deepfake videos of Moldovan President Maia Sandu were created using AI and spread on Telegram channels to spread disinformation and undermine democratic institutions in Moldova.
Multiple deepfake videos of Moldovan President Maia Sandu were created using artificial intelligence technology and distributed through Telegram channels, particularly targeting Russian-speaking audiences. The videos falsely presented Sandu making ironic statements about Moldovan citizens' standard of living and falsely announcing her resignation while urging people to vote for a party affiliated with fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor. The deepfakes appeared on Friday on the Telegram channel 'Sandu Oficial' and were shared by several channels known for spreading disinformation. One video appeared just before the President's traditional New Year's speech on December 31, while two other deepfake videos were published on November 3, two days before local elections. The videos referenced philanthropist George Soros and the United States as 'sponsors' of Moldova's pro-European leadership, echoing central themes of Russian disinformation campaigns. The deepfake technology has been extensively used by pages affiliated with fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, who authorities claim works under Moscow's coordination. The Presidency of Moldova officially denied the authenticity of statements attributed to Sandu and characterized the incident as part of a hybrid war against Moldova and its democratic leadership. Moldova continues to be a key target for Russian propaganda amid the regional context of Ukraine's invasion.
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.
Human
Due to a decision or action made by humans
Intentional
Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal
Post-deployment
Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed
No population impact data reported.