Julia Letlow calls John Fleming’s sharing of AI parody video ‘unconscionable’

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - An AI-generated video is at the center of a dispute between two Louisiana Republicans in a heated primary runoff for a U.S. Senate seat.

In a recent video posted to social media, Congresswoman Julia Letlow says Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming crossed the line when he shared an AI generated video which made several claims, including one where a deepfake version of Letlow says she was planning to become a Louisiana university president when “...my poor husband died and I was appointed to his Congressional seat.”

When Fleming shared the video on social media on June 11, he wrote that he “didn’t make this parody video but it’s getting passed around for Louisiana for a reason.”

Letlow responded one day later, posting her own video.

“Yesterday, John Fleming crossed the line,” Letlow said. “He posted an AI parody video attacking my family members, including my late husband, Luke.”

Letlow, who won a 2021 special election to fill her late husband’s seat, demanded Fleming take down the video immediately.

“Posting this video is disgraceful and indefensible. Family is off limits, period. I am running against John, no one else,” said Letlow.

In her video response, Letlow went on to say the video’s inclusion of her husband is “unconscionable.”

Additionally, Fleming has accused Letlow of using AI to smear his own campaign, claiming Letlow’s campaign team produced AI-generated videos of him driving a bus of illegal aliens and affiliating him with Dr. Anthony Fauci in the call for COVID vaccinations.

As of Monday afternoon, Fleming has not removed the parody video of Letlow from his social media feed.

While some prominent Republicans from Louisiana have called Fleming’s sharing of the AI video unethical, Dillard University political analyst Doctor Robert Collins said that’s something voters must decide for themselves.

“It’s just really up to the voters to decide whether or not if it’s in good taste or bad taste, or whether or not this is information that they need,” said Dr. Collins.

There is no federal law requiring the disclosure of AI use in political ads, but states like California, Michigan and Florida have passed laws addressing the increasing use of AI in such ads.

Louisiana’s legislature recently passed similar legislation. Governor Jeff Landry signed HB 459 into law on June 9. The new will take effect on Aug. 1 of this year.

Dr. Robert Collins said the dispute between the two Republicans vying for U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy’s seat is a collision between politics and a rapidly evolving technology.

“AI is now so sophisticated that [it] can put together deep fakes that basically look exactly like the candidate,” said Dr. Collins.

For now, voters mostly have to use their own judgement on the authenticity of political ads.

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