AI-generated deepfake video of Senator Klobuchar goes viral
An AI-generated deepfake video falsely showed Senator Amy Klobuchar making vulgar statements about actress Sydney Sweeney and Democratic voters, reaching over a million viewers before being removed by some platforms. Klobuchar confirmed the fabrication and called for new legislation to prevent misuse of people's likenesses through AI technology.
What happened
An AI-generated deepfake video of Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar making vulgar and false statements about actress Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle jeans advertisement went viral online, viewed more than a million times.
The video appeared to show Klobuchar speaking at a July 30 Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on data privacy, but was fabricated to show her using the phrase 'perfect titties' and making derogatory comments about Democratic voters' appearance.
Reported impact
The video circulated widely on social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Meta, and X before being addressed.
Klobuchar reported mixed results when requesting removal from social media platforms: TikTok took it down and Meta labeled it as AI, but X offered no assistance beyond suggesting a Community Note.
Index analysis
Klobuchar stated that though she could immediately recognize the video as a deepfake, 'there was no getting around the fact that it looked and sounded very real,' noting the eerily mirrored voice and vocal style.
Governance controls
The incident prompted Senator Klobuchar to call for Congress to pass new legislation to protect Americans by preventing their likeness from being used without consent.
Klobuchar published an op-ed in the New York Times titled 'What I Didn't Say About Sydney Sweeney,' stating that 'a realistic deepfake can circle the globe and land in the phones of millions while the truth is still stuck on a landline.'
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.