Spanish opposition party faces legal challenge over AI video of PM's wife

The People's Party released a political advertisement on social media this week that uses artificial intelligence to mimic the voices and faces of senior figures in Spain's governing Socialist Party. The clip, which has accumulated nearly two million views, features an AI-generated version of Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, discussing her university appointment.

The video also includes a deepfake of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. In the clip, the AI-generated Zapatero claims he hid jewelry in a safe. Both figures are currently the subject of ongoing investigations, although they have publicly denied any wrongdoing. The PP posted the content on its official channels without a prominent disclaimer.

Leire Díez, a former member of the Socialist Party whose likeness was used in the video, filed a court complaint on Friday. She is seeking an immediate injunction to remove the advert. Díez alleges defamation and digital identity theft, arguing the video alludes to accusations that she worked against the judiciary to benefit her former party.

Óscar López, Spain's digital transformation minister, criticized the use of the video on TVE. He described the clip as a colossal lie and noted that the label identifying the content as AI-generated appeared in tiny, nearly transparent text at the bottom of the screen. He warned that voters unfamiliar with the technology could easily mistake the simulation for reality.

Legal analysts generally support the PP's position. Nine legal experts consulted by El País stated the video is likely not illegal because it is labeled as AI-generated and maintains a satirical tone. Íñigo Navarro, a former dean at Madrid's Comillas Pontifical University, said the context makes it clear the individuals did not actually say those things.

Juan Antonio Lascuraín, a criminal law professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid, distinguished legality from political appropriateness. He argued that while the video may be legally sound, its ethical standing is a separate matter. The PP dismissed the criticism, with party figure Borja Sémper stating there is no issue unless the intent was maliciously to deceive viewers into thinking the characters were real.

José Javier Olivas, an associate professor at Spain's National University for Distance Education, called the decision regrettable. He noted that while both major parties attack each other's morality, this video crossed a red line by putting words in people's mouths. He classified the tactic as disinformation.

The use of AI in political advertising is expanding globally. A report from the Wesleyan Media Project identified more than 200 ads using AI in the United States ahead of the midterms. Most were tied to Republican campaigns. Erika Franklin Fowler, co-director of the project, said spending on such ads in the 2024 cycle was under $50,000, but current usage often lacks disclaimers.

Polls indicate the PP is positioned to win the general election on November 29. However, most projections suggest the party will require support from the far-right Vox party to form a government. The legal battle over the video is expected to continue before that date.