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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.