In brief
In the lead-up to the Hungarian elections, AI-generated videos have become tools of disinformation, particularly used by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party. A controversial video depicting a harrowing execution scene aimed at discrediting rival Péter Magyar has drawn public scrutiny, as it leverages fears associated with the Ukraine conflict. Despite the shocking nature of such content, Magyar leads in many polls, reflecting growing discontent among voters, particularly the youth.
Warning: This piece refers to scenes of violence from the start.
When a video went viral appearing to show a Hungarian soldier's execution, its disturbing nature came as a shock to anyone who saw it. Ahead of pivotal Hungarian elections on Sunday 12 April, the AI-generated, fake clip was posted on the social media accounts of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party in February.
It tells the story of a young girl at a window yearning for her father's return home from war, and then the video cuts to him - blindfolded, bound by the hands, and then shot by his captors. The video targeted Orbán's election rival, Péter Magyar, who could unseat him after 16 years in office.
The Fidesz campaign has made unsubstantiated claims about the war in Ukraine and Magyar's intentions, at times using AI-generated videos like this, even though it makes clear the video is fake. The video is an AI video, but the war is really horrible, the video states. Péter Magyar doesn't want you to see this video. He doesn't want you to see what an irreversible tragedy it is to join a war.
Fidesz alleges that Magyar, from the centre-right party Tisza, will bring Russia's war against Ukraine to its doorstep if elected, even using pension money to support Ukraine and imposing forced conscription.
Such narratives have been widely rejected by Magyar and by his party Tisza. In its manifesto, it pledges it will not send troops to Ukraine and does not plan to revive conscription. We asked ruling party Fidesz whether it had made the AI execution video, but the party has not responded to our questions.
In response to the AI video, Támas Menczer, communications director of the Fidesz-KNDP alliance, stated, the greatest possible danger is that Hungarian people could die if Tisza wins. However, he did not comment on the video being made with AI.
Magyar has condemned the video as heartless manipulation, while fact-checkers note the use of generative AI is a new tactic in the ongoing campaign, reflecting an expansion of Fidesz's misinformation strategies.
The strategy does not appear to have swayed many voters, with Magyar maintaining a lead in opinion polls, particularly among the youth, who sway heavily towards his party.
Amid heightened tensions, the use of AI in political messaging raises concerns about the integrity of information and the discernment of voters in a rapidly evolving electoral landscape.
