Kamala Harris deepfake videos have resurfaced on social media after Joe Biden announced his decision not to run for reelection and endorsed Harris as the Democratic nominee. While Harris’ supporters have focused on light-hearted moments and speeches delivered by the Vice President, some supporters of Donald Trump have chosen a different path, sharing manipulated media showcasing a fake speech that Harris never delivered.
The viral video, which has gained traction on platforms like TikTok and Twitter, features Harris speaking in front of a live crowd. However, it is actually a deepfake, meaning it has been edited and the audio has been replaced with an AI-generated clone voice. Media Matters for America released a report highlighting this deepfake, prompting TikTok to remove the posts and fake audio from its platform.
Interestingly, this is not the first time that this specific Kamala Harris deepfake has circulated online. It was debunked by multiple outlets when it was first posted last year. The altered clip features a genuine video of Harris speaking at Howard University, but her words have been digitally altered. In the viral video, she appears to say nonsensical phrases like “Today is today and yesterday was today yesterday,” which she never actually said.
Experts have pointed out several inconsistencies in the deepfake video. There is digital noise around Harris’ mouth, indicating an attempt to edit the clip to match the fake audio. Additionally, the fake audio lacks background noise or audio from the crowd, further revealing its deceptive nature. Despite being debunked over a year ago, the deepfake went viral on Elon Musk’s X platform after a right-wing user uploaded it last week. While X does not remove this type of content based on its policies, users were able to add a user-generated Community Note to inform others that the video is fake.
In contrast, TikTok actively removes AI-generated misinformation that violates its platform rules. The platform claims to proactively remove 98 percent of content that goes against its policies. However, according to the Media Matters report, one of the uploads of the Harris deepfake received over 4.1 million views before it was taken down. TikTok is now working on detecting and removing other uploads of the deepfake.
The resurgence of Kamala Harris deepfake videos highlights the growing concern surrounding deepfakes in political campaigns. With AI-generated audio and video tools becoming more accessible, deepfakes are expected to be a significant issue in the 2024 elections and beyond. It is crucial for platforms like TikTok to continue improving their detection and removal systems to prevent the spread of misinformation and protect the integrity of political discourse.