Deepfake video of Mauricio Macri circulates in Buenos Aires election campaign
A deepfake video purporting to show former Argentine president Mauricio Macri withdrawing his coalition's candidate was created with AI and circulated by accounts tied to President Javier Milei's party during Buenos Aires legislative elections on 18 May 2025. The video was designed to deceive voters during an election blackout period, and the Tribunal Superior ordered its removal following complaints of electoral fraud.
What happened
On 18 May 2025, during Buenos Aires legislative elections, a video created with artificial intelligence circulated showing Mauricio Macri announcing the withdrawal of candidate Silvia Lospennato's candidacy and calling for votes for Manuel Adorni. The video was shared by social media accounts aligned with La Libertad Avanza, including @TommyShelby_30, @ElTrumpista, @jdoedoe101101, @MileiEmperador, and Daniel Parisini.
Macri denounced the video as a "digital fraud attempt" violating electoral rules. Lospennato stated the video violated electoral blackout period and constituted identity usurpation and electoral manipulation. The Tribunal Superior ordered removal of the material distributed from accounts linked to La Libertad Avanza.
Reported impact
Macri stated the synthetic video sought to confuse voters using methods that could be interpreted as real. He emphasized the gravity of releasing such material during electoral blackout when traditional media response was not possible, describing it as anti-democratic strategy.
Lospennato reported that judicial and electoral complaints were filed, and characterized the incident as involving serious crimes.
Index analysis
The deepfake video was created to impersonate Macri and alter his stated electoral positions during a restricted campaign period when public correction through traditional media was not permitted.
Governance controls
The Tribunal Superior ordered removal of the material from accounts linked to La Libertad Avanza in response to the complaint.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.