New York State Democrats are taking their concerns about Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman’s campaign’s artificial intelligence use to the state Board of Elections.
State Democratic Committee Chair Jay Jacobs filed a complaint with the agency on Monday, Aug. 10, alleging the Nassau County executive’s campaign is violating state law and asking for an investigation into the potential wrongdoing.
“The State Board of Elections cannot permit a campaign to repeatedly flout the Election Law, and it certainly cannot permit that campaign to pull down public matching funds in furtherance of this subversion,” the complaint reads.
Here’s what to know about the complaint.
What is Blakeman’s campaign accused of doing?
Jacobs says the Blakeman campaign has “repeatedly disregarded” a recent amendment to state election law requiring political campaigns to disclose when they’re using “materially deceptive media.”
“It has been reported that a myriad of Blakeman generated ads rely on artificial intelligence to distort reality —specifically using Governor Hochul’s image but manipulating it to say and do things that she has not,” according to the complaint.
Multiple news outlets across New York have reported on the issue in recent months, including the USA TODAY Network. Between June 5 and July 23, there were nearly 20 video ads appearing to use AI posted to Blakeman’s social media. And while most have disclosures, some are seemingly void of that requirement.
There are several videos posted to his campaign’s Facebook page throughout July that feature Blakeman speaking with people on the street containing several seemingly AI-generated clips dispersed throughout them. Blakeman has also been under fire for using Nassau County GOP members in testimonial videos without being transparent about who they are.
Blakeman and members of his campaign have repeatedly dismissed concerns about their campaign ad AI use, asserting videos that are obviously satire do not require a legal disclaimer.
Further, the Democratic Committee chair asserts the Republican candidate’s campaign is using the funds he received through the state’s Public Campaign Finance Board’s Public Matching Funds program for its questionable actions.
“The Blakeman campaign has been proud to convert taxpayer dollars into campaign funds and then use those public matching funds to support campaign activities that violate the Election Law,” the complaint states.
“Kathy Hochul is so desperate to distract from her record of higher taxes and soaring utility bills that she’s begging Jay Jacobs to run interference,” Blakeman campaign spokesperson Madison Spanodemos said about the complaint. “The facts about Hochul’s affordability crisis aren’t going away, no matter how hard they try to change the subject.”
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers’ taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Democrats file complaint over Bruce Blakeman AI campaign ads
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Emily Barnes, New York State Team | USA TODAY Network
