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Turning Point Activists Posted Deepfakes in Arizona Governor's Race

Turning Point activists posted AI images of Rep. Lorena Austin without disclosure, and a detector rated one photo 100% AI-generated.

  • Over the weekend, Turning Point activists Matt Whitmire and Mary Ann Mendoza posted AI-generated photos on X depicting Democrat Rep. Lorena Austin supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs, garnering roughly 25,000 views.
  • Deepfake Detector assigned a "100% AI score" to the images, noting "visual analysis is highly consistent with AI-generated imagery," and Austin confirmed they never posed for the photos.
  • Austin denounced the group as "deceptive," while Biggs campaign spokesman Drew Sexton distanced the candidate, stating the activists are "not connected in any way to our campaign."
  • Under 2024 Arizona legislation, violators face a $10 fine per day for each day deceptive deepfakes are distributed without disclosure within 90 days of an election.
  • Warning that "AI is a threat to reliable election information," Secretary of State Adrian Fontes urged voters to vet online information as politicians increasingly incorporate AI-generated images into their toolboxes.
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  • 100% of the sources lean Left
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Arizona Capitol Times broke the news in Phoenix, United States on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
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