A significant incident involving political disinformation has come to light with Conservative MP George Freeman reporting an “AI-generated deepfake” video of himself to the police. The video, which circulated widely online, falsely depicted the MP for Mid Norfolk announcing his defection to Reform UK, the party led by Nigel Farage. Freeman vehemently denounced the fabrication, taking to Facebook to label the deliberate spread of misinformation through AI-generated content as a “concerning and dangerous development.”

The deepfake video showed a digitally altered version of Freeman speaking to the camera, asserting that he was switching allegiance and joining Reform UK. In the fabricated clip, the AI-generated likeness of Freeman declared that “the time for half measures is over” and that the “Conservative party had lost its way,” justifying his supposed departure from the party. However, reports from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) confirmed that Freeman has “no intention of joining Reform or any other party” and has indeed reported the incident to law enforcement.

Responding directly to the deceptive clip, Freeman expressed his outrage, stating, “The video is a fabrication, created without my knowledge or consent, and uses my image and voice without permission. Regardless of my position as an MP, that should be an offence.” He further warned of the broader implications for democratic processes, adding, “This sort of political disinformation has the potential to seriously distort, disrupt and corrupt our democracy.”

The MP acknowledged his uncertainty regarding the motive behind the deepfake, speculating whether it constituted a “politically motivated attack” or merely a “dangerous prank.” He also highlighted a broader trend, noting a “huge increase in political disinformation, disruption and extremism” across the political spectrum in recent months. Freeman urged the public to act responsibly, stating, “I have reported this matter to the relevant authorities, and I urge anyone who sees the video to report it immediately rather than share it further.”

Providing context to his public service, George Freeman was first elected in 2010 and has since held various ministerial positions within previous Conservative governments. Most recently, he served as the Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, a role that ironically places him at the intersection of technological advancement and its potential misuse. Norfolk police have been contacted for further comment regarding the reported incident, as investigations are expected to proceed into this alarming instance of AI-driven political deception.