Spain's PP Party Faces Backlash Over AI-Generated Campaign Video Impersonating Socialist Figures

Spain's opposition People's Party (PP) released a 51-second AI-generated deepfake video this week showing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's wife and senior socialist politicians appearing to confess to corruption, kickbacks, and other crimes—reigniting debate over AI regulation in political campaigns. The video, titled "Lerdos y orgullosos" (Dimwits and Proud), targeted Begoña Gómez (Sánchez's wife), former PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, former transport minister José Luis Abalos, and three other PSOE-linked figures. Gómez's deepfake persona claims she received a university leadership role through her husband's position; others are fabricated confessing to illegal payments and criminal activity. The clip accumulated nearly two million views across social platforms.