People's Party Faces Court Complaint Over 2 Million View AI Ad

Nearly two million people watched the video before the legal battle began. The clip, released this week on the social media channels of Spain's People's Party, features AI-generated likenesses of figures connected to the governing Socialist party. It depicts them confessing to soliciting prostitutes and accepting kickbacks. The footage includes an AI version of Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, discussing her university appointment. It also features a deepfake of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero talking about hiding jewellery in a safe. Both individuals have denied wrongdoing in ongoing investigations.

The controversy erupted as Spain prepares for general elections on 29 November. The People's Party launched the advertisement on its official accounts this week. The video relies on artificial intelligence to manipulate the faces and voices of several political figures. In one segment, the digital stand-in for Gómez suggests her academic position was secured due to her husband's political role. Another segment shows a simulated Zapatero admitting to concealing valuables. These references align with current legal probes, adding fuel to the pre-election fire.

The Socialist party reacted swiftly on Friday. Digital Transformation Minister Óscar López told broadcaster TVE that the party was telling people a colossal lie. He noted that the AI label appeared at the bottom of the clip in tiny, nearly transparent text. López warned that viewers unfamiliar with artificial intelligence could easily mistake the simulation for reality. He called the use of the party's official accounts for such an ad intolerable.

Leire Díez, a former Socialist party member whose likeness was used in the video, filed a court complaint against the People's Party also on Friday. She requested the immediate removal of the advert. Díez accused the party of defamation and digital identity theft. The video used her image to allude to claims that she worked to undermine the judiciary and law enforcement to benefit the Socialists.

Legal experts appear to support the opposition party's position. Most of the nine legal specialists consulted by El País agreed the video was not illegal. They cited the AI label and the satirical tone of the piece as key factors. Íñigo Navarro, a former dean of the law faculty at Madrid's Comillas Pontifical University, stated that the context makes it clear those people did not say those things. Juan Antonio Lascuraín, a criminal law professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid, stressed that legality is separate from ethical or political correctness.

Criticism continues from academic observers. José Javier Olivas, an associate professor at Spain's National University for Distance Education, called the move regrettable for a party claiming to revitalise democracy. He described the video as crossing a red line. Olivas argued that putting words in other people's mouths qualifies as disinformation, even if the technique is technically legal.

The People's Party has dismissed the criticism. Party figure Borja Sémper stated that a problem exists only if there was malicious intent to make people believe the characters were real. He said the video uses digital tools to highlight Socialist hypocrisy. Current polls suggest the People's Party will win the 29 November election. However, they will need support from the far-right Vox party to form a government.