Diana Șoșoacă casts political rivals as prisoners in AI-generated video

Romanian Member of the European Parliament Diana Șoșoacă has stirred controversy with a new AI-generated video published on her Facebook page. In the clip, Șoșoacă portrays herself as a prison guard, while several political adversaries are depicted as inmates within a penitentiary.

The video features prominent Romanian political figures, including interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, labeled "Ilie Sărăcie" (Ilie Poverty), and Mayor Nicușor Dan, referred to as "Nea Nicu" (Uncle Nicu). Other "prisoners" include parliamentary leaders like Sorin Grindeanu, Dominic Fritz, and George Simion, each placed in cells representing their respective parties.

This provocative imagery echoes the past tactics of Corneliu Vadim Tudor, a former politician who frequently demonized opponents in his magazine, "România Mare." In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Tudor published lists of individuals he accused of betraying Romania, often suggesting they would face imprisonment or execution.

The video's release occurs against a backdrop of ongoing legal troubles for Șoșoacă. Prosecutors have indicted her in a case involving the unlawful detention of Italian journalists. She is also facing a request from Romanian authorities to the European Parliament to lift her immunity in another case, where she is accused of promoting fascist, legionary, racist, or antisemitic ideas, denying the Holocaust, and committing contempt of court.

Adding to her legal challenges, the association "Lupii Tricolori" (Tricolor Wolves) announced its intention to file a new criminal complaint against Șoșoacă, accusing her of treason and spreading false information. The group cites her alleged constant contact with Russian Federation representatives, including a visit to the Russian Embassy in 2022 and a letter to Vladimir Putin in 2025, as evidence.