PT files complaint over AI-generated videos depicting violence against women
Brazil's Workers' Party (PT) filed a complaint with the Supreme Electoral Court after AI-generated videos simulating violence against female party members circulated on social media platforms. The videos depicted women wearing PT shirts being assaulted in staged "exorcism" scenes, accompanied by messages attacking communism and the party.
What happened
AI-generated videos simulating violence against female PT members circulated on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms.
The videos depicted women wearing PT shirts being assaulted with punches and slaps during staged "exorcism" scenes conducted by religious leaders, with messages such as "here there is no space for communists" and phrases like "leave this body, petista".
Reported impact
PT national communications secretary Éden Valadares characterized the incident as "grave, shocking and inadmissible" and a "grave attack on the PT and Brazilian democracy as a whole".
The party announced plans to send cease-and-desist notices to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and other platforms demanding immediate removal of the videos.
Index analysis
The videos used AI-generated deepfakes to create synthetic depictions of violence targeting female party activists, weaponizing synthetic media technology for political purposes.
Governance controls
The PT filed a complaint with Brazil's Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) on April 11, 2026, seeking to hold those responsible for producing and spreading the videos accountable through the electoral justice system.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.