Spain's PP faces legal challenge over deepfake election ad

The Socialist party condemned the move as a "colossal lie," with Digital Transformation Minister Óscar López warning that the subtle AI disclaimer makes it easy for viewers to confuse the content with reality. In response, Leire Díez, a former Socialist member whose likeness was used, filed a legal challenge against the PP, alleging defamation and digital identity theft. While a majority of nine legal experts consulted by El País stated the video was likely not illegal due to its AI labeling and satirical tone, others argued it crossed ethical and political boundaries by putting words in people's mouths.

The incident has intensified global debates on AI in politics, coinciding with reports of increased AI-generated ad spending in the US midterms. The PP dismissed the criticism, claiming the intent was not malicious but to highlight perceived hypocrisy. Despite the backlash, polls suggest the PP is likely to win the upcoming election, though it may require support from the far-right Vox party to form a government.