The Associated Press reports that suspected Russia-linked videos using fabricated claims and apparent AI manipulation targeted Senate candidates in Ohio and Texas.
The Associated Press reported October 28 that social media videos believed to be linked to Russia are using real people’s names and photographs to spread false claims about Ohio Senate candidate Sherrod Brown and Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. The videos appeared during the final stretch of midterm voting. One portrays a newscast featuring former Brown staff members; another presents a supposed former student making a confessional-style allegation about Talarico. A former Brown intern whose image appeared in one clip told AP the claims attributed to her were fabricated.
Media-forensics expert Darren Linvill of Clemson University said the videos share hallmarks with material associated with Storm-1516, a Russian influence network that targeted U.S. political figures in 2024. Dartmouth professor Hany Farid assessed that the clips were likely generated or manipulated with AI, though he described the Brown video as a relatively low-tech fake. The Russian Embassy did not immediately respond to AP’s request for comment, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency also did not respond.
X removed the initial posts and suspended the accounts that shared them for rule violations, but AP found copies still circulating online, some with hundreds of shares. The episode illustrates a practical challenge for platforms and election officials: removing an original post may not stop copies from spreading, particularly close to voting. It also shows how synthetic or manipulated media can exploit the identities and reputations of real people, lending false allegations a veneer of credibility.
The report does not establish that every element of both videos was AI-generated, nor does it independently confirm who produced them. Its findings rely on expert analysis and similarities to prior influence operations. For campaigns, platforms, and election-information teams, the case underscores the value of rapid verification, clear corrections, and coordination when misleading material circulates. For voters, the central warning is to verify striking claims about candidates and alleged witnesses before sharing clips, especially when the source is unclear and the content appears shortly before an election.