Elon Musk posts deepfake of Kamala Harris that violates X policy

Elon Musk recently shared a deepfake video of Vice President Kamala Harris on the social media platform X, which he owns. The video, a manipulated version of a Harris campaign ad, falsely portrays her making statements she did not actually say, including claims about being the "ultimate diversity hire" and having been mentored by President Joe Biden. While the original post included a disclaimer labeling it as a "parody," Musk's repost lacked this context, simply stating, "This is amazing," accompanied by a laughing emoji. This action appears to violate X's policies against synthetic and manipulated media, which prohibit content that could mislead or confuse users.

The incident has drawn criticism from various political figures, including Senator Amy Klobuchar and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who argue that such manipulations could lead to widespread misinformation during the election season. Klobuchar has proposed legislation requiring disclaimers on AI-altered political ads, while Newsom indicated plans to sign a bill making such manipulations illegal. Musk's response to the backlash included a reference to the legality of parody in the U.S. The situation highlights ongoing concerns about the role of AI in political discourse and the challenges platforms face in regulating misinformation. X has not yet commented on the matter.