GoKawiilAI deepfake videos tied to Russian network target Senate candidates Brown, Talarico
Disinformation videos circulating on social media falsely attribute claims to former associates of Democratic Senate candidates Sherrod Brown and James Talarico, researchers say the clips were likely produced using AI and linked to the Russian network Storm-1516. A former Brown intern, Haya Akbik, says a video falsely depicts her making allegations against the senator. X removed the original posts and suspended the accounts, though copies remained online.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The incident illustrates how foreign influence operations are increasingly pairing established disinformation tactics with generative AI to fabricate convincing but false attributions to real people, potentially complicating voters' ability to trust online content ahead of midterm elections. Talarico's campaign frames the videos as an attempt to discredit him through fabricated material rather than factual criticism, a characterization offered by his spokesperson rather than independently confirmed.
- Videos targeting Brown and Talarico are believed to use AI manipulation and are linked to Russian network Storm-1516.
- A former Brown intern says a video falsely attributes claims to her, calling it damaging to her reputation and the senator.
- X removed the original posts and suspended accounts, but copies remained accessible online.
Source: fastcompany.com, 2026-10-28
Published there as: “Fake videos possibly linked to Russia are targeting these two Democratic Senate candidates”
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