AI-Generated Videos Simulate New Yorkers Opposing Mayor-Elect Mamdani
Accounts reportedly using AI-generated video technology created synthetic videos of fictional New Yorkers opposing mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani across social media platforms. The campaign reportedly accumulated tens of thousands of views and demonstrated how generative AI can automate astroturfing at scale.
What happened
Accounts calling themselves Citizens Against Mamdani posted AI-generated videos of fictional New Yorkers criticizing mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. The videos featured people with New York accents making arguments about Mamdani's alleged anti-Americanism, plans to hike taxes, and promises on rent and transportation.
The TikTok account accumulated about 30,000 likes, while individual videos on various platforms received tens of thousands of views.
Reported impact
The campaign demonstrates how generative AI has made astroturfing easier to execute at scale. According to cybersecurity experts, the synthetic videos created a false impression of grassroots opposition to the candidate.
Index analysis
Generative AI text-to-video technology enabled the creation of hyperrealistic videos without requiring human influencers or significant operational effort, representing an evolution in political manipulation tactics from previous election cycles that relied on hired influencers or bot networks.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.