Storyline · general · 2 reports from 2 newsrooms
AI deepfakes threaten midterm voters
First reported Nov 2, 7:30 PM ET · Latest Nov 2, 8:42 PM ET · Explainer updated Nov 3, 2:00 AM ET
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Why it was in the Relay Update: Reported independently by 5 newsrooms, 5 hours old when it aired, picked for the Top Stories desk.
Where things stand
AI‑generated deepfake videos are appearing in the lead‑up to Election Day, CBS News reports. Voters across the United States are casting their final choices in the midterm elections, NBC News reports.
The living record of this story: every fact with its status and source, updated as reporting comes in. Version 1, updated . Earlier versions
Facts
What the reporting says
Each fact is matched to the exact words of the report it comes from, and checked that those words really say it. Open one to see the source.
- Reported Candidates are delivering their final pitches to voters in the midterm elections. Is this wrong?
Source
- “those competing for their vote make their final pitches.” — NBC News
How to read the labels: Reported: one newsroom · Corroborated: two or more independent newsrooms · Confirmed: backed by a primary source such as an official release or filing · Disputed: newsrooms disagree · Updated: replaced by a newer figure. This story as data for AI assistants and developers.
Timeline
How this story developed
- New Candidates are delivering their final pitches to voters in the midterm elections.
Every report, newest first
- Political AI deepfakes infiltrating midterm elections, could pose risks to voters — CBS News
CBS News MoneyWatch reporter Megan Cerullo discusses the issue of AI-generated deepfake videos in the lead-up to Election Day.
- Voters making final decisions in midterm elections — NBC News
Voters across the U.S. are making their choices in the midterm elections as those competing for their vote make their final pitches.
Questions
- It remains unclear how many voters have been exposed to these deepfakes or how the videos might influence voting decisions. Open
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More: background
Deepfakes are synthetic videos created using artificial‑intelligence techniques that can make people appear to say or do things they never did. Midterm elections are the nationwide congressional races held halfway through a president’s four‑year term, and they often attract intense campaigning and media scrutiny.
How this works: stories from different newsrooms are grouped by topic, then AI writes the explainer using only those reports. It may miss context the reports don't include.