An AI-generated deepfake video falsely claims that Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has withdrawn from the 2025 Irish presidential race. The video, which portrays Connolly announcing her exit from the campaign, has been widely circulated on social media platforms, including Facebook, where it garnered nearly 30,000 views before being removed by Meta for violating its policies on misinformation and deepfakes.
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Catherine Connolly, a left-wing independent candidate supported by Sinn Féin and other smaller parties, is currently leading in the polls ahead of the election scheduled for October 24. She has publicly denounced the video as a malicious attempt to undermine her campaign and mislead voters. Her spokesperson emphasized that the video is entirely fabricated and that Connolly remains fully committed to her presidential bid.
The Electoral Commission has been alerted to the incident, and social media platforms are under increasing pressure to enhance their efforts in combating the spread of AI-generated disinformation. This incident underscores the growing concern over the use of deepfakes in political campaigns and the need for vigilant media literacy among the public.
As the election approaches, voters are advised to critically assess the authenticity of online content and rely on credible sources for information.
