AI-generated audio and manipulated videos were used to spread false propaganda claiming hundreds of thousands were protesting in support of Germany's far-right AfD party, when the footage actually showed anti-AfD demonstrations from 2024.
Ahead of Germany's federal elections, multiple TikTok videos went viral falsely claiming to show hundreds of thousands of people marching in support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. German media outlet Correctiv revealed that these videos had been manipulated by AfD supporters' accounts. The videos consisted of real footage from large demonstrations, but the original audio had been replaced with AI-generated soundtracks featuring crowds chanting 'east, east, east' - a chant associated with Dynamo Dresden football fans rather than typical AfD supporters. AI audio detectors confirmed the soundtracks were artificially generated. The actual footage was from January 2024 protests in Hamburg and Berlin where tens of thousands demonstrated against the far right and AfD, with original chants like 'All Berlin hates the AfD.' One manipulated video received over three million views. The videos were posted by accounts with names like 'Alice Weidel Fan' and 'AfD John.' After being contacted by fact-checkers, the two TikTok profiles deleted all content and claimed they had not intended to spread misinformation, with identical responses suggesting the same person operated both accounts.
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