AI deepfake attack ads are flooding the midterms: How to tell what’s real before you vote

Here’s a number that should make you squint at your TV. Political campaigns have spent more than $80 million on AI-generated ads this election season. (Yes, million with an M.)

These ads put words in candidates’ mouths and stage scenes that never happened. Rivals gardening together. A politician bragging about jacking up your tolls. None of it real.

And the growth is wild. Back in May, the nonpartisan Wesleyan Media Project counted 33 AI political ads. By September, it was 164. That’s a fivefold jump in four months, and Election Day is Nov. 3.

🧾 The label loophole

Here’s what you need to know. There is no federal law requiring AI political ads to be labeled. Thirty-one states have their own rules, creating a patchwork.

Labels aren’t saving us anyway. Nearly 7 in 10 AI ads the researchers tracked had no AI disclaimer at all. When one does show up, it might flash for a few seconds at the start. Blink and it’s gone. (Funny how that works.)

Some ads are so over the top, they’re obviously fake. Experts have a name for those: slopaganda. AI slop plus propaganda. The danger isn’t that you believe the scene happened. It’s that a 15-second cartoon sticks in your head and quietly changes how you feel about a real person.

🛡️ How to tell what’s real before you vote

Treat any shocking political clip like a used car. Don’t buy it on looks.

• Find a second source. If a candidate truly said something outrageous, real news outlets will be all over it. Crickets? Red flag.
• Go straight to the source. Check the candidate’s official website and verified social accounts. Not there? Be skeptical.
• Hunt for the fine print. Pause on the first few seconds and scan the corners of the screen for “AI-generated” or “digitally altered.”
• Watch the face. Odd blinking, mushy teeth, lips out of sync with the words and plastic-smooth skin are classic giveaways.
• Check your pulse. If a clip makes you furious in five seconds flat, that’s the point. Outrage spreads. Slow down before you hit share.
• Report it. On most social apps, tap the three dots next to the post and choose Report.

FYI, this isn’t about red or blue. It’s about you not getting played.

When any face on your screen can be faked, your best defense is a cool head and a second source. The only expert on your ballot is you.

🔒 Before you click that outrage link

Here’s the part nobody talks about. Viral fakes rarely travel alone. They come with links: “Watch the full clip.” “Sign the petition.” “Chip in $5 now.” Election season is a gold mine for copycat sites built to grab your clicks and your card number.

That’s where a good VPN earns its keep. NordVPN’s Threat Protection helps block known dangerous websites before they load. It also encrypts your connection on home Wi-Fi, at the coffee shop or in the airport lounge. (Travelers, this one’s for you.) One account covers up to 10 devices, and connecting takes a couple of clicks.

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🗣️ Text/post this stat: Nearly 7 in 10 AI political ads this election season never told viewers AI made them. Get smarter about tech at GetKim.com.

📩 Send this to someone who forwards every outrageous political video in the family group chat.