Flávio Bolsonaro says ex-president unaware of AI video at party convention

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro asserted on Thursday that his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, had no knowledge of an artificial intelligence-generated video displayed during the Liberal Party's national convention. The video, which has drawn scrutiny from Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and Supreme Federal Court (STF), featured an AI simulation of the former president.

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It's obvious that President Bolsonaro had no idea that the AI video would be shown at my convention.

Flávio Bolsonaro stated that his team reviewed electoral legislation and found no prohibitions against the video's use. "It's obvious that President Bolsonaro had no idea that the AI video would be shown at my convention," he said during a social media live stream. He also contended that AI is widely used online, including by opposing political campaigns, and described its use as "unstoppable."

The AI-generated video, lasting 46 seconds, showed an image of Jair Bolsonaro against a white background. In the simulation, the former president declared, "What you are seeing here is not me. This is a simulation of my image and my voice made with artificial intelligence. As everyone here knows, I am imprisoned and silenced by an unjust and arbitrary decision, based on something I never did." The AI Bolsonaro then appealed for support for Flávio's candidacy.

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AI is unstoppable. Nobody will be able to control its use.

Flávio Bolsonaro reiterated his defense's argument presented to the court: that deepfake technology is only prohibited if used with the intent to deceive. He emphasized that the AI Bolsonaro explicitly stated it was a simulation, thereby removing any doubt about its authenticity. "During elections, you cannot use AI, deepfake, to promote lies to create content supporting or attacking another candidate whenever there is an intention to deceive, to mislead the viewer," he explained.

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This is a simulation of my image and my voice made with artificial intelligence. As everyone here knows, I am imprisoned and silenced by an unjust and arbitrary decision, based on something I never did.

The exhibition of the video is under legal review on two fronts. The Workers' Party (PT) has filed a complaint with the TSE, alleging premature campaigning and the use of deepfake technology, which electoral law prohibits. Additionally, Justice Alexandre de Moraes is examining whether the video violated precautionary measures imposed on Bolsonaro, such as restrictions on his social media use while under house arrest.

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During elections, you cannot use AI, deepfake, to promote lies to create content supporting or attacking another candidate whenever there is an intention to deceive, to mislead the viewer.