TL;DR

An independent councillor in Gloucester has defended creating and sharing an AI-generated video showing the city’s mayor in ceremonial robes, saying it “served a purpose” to highlight concerns about council finances. The Liberal Democrat group is calling for a formal investigation.

AI Deepfakes Enter Local Politics

Councillor Alastair Chambers created the video showing Mayor Ashley Bowkett appearing to say he would not allow an investigation into the council’s finances. The video was posted to a local Facebook page on Sunday.

“If I need to push boundaries and use modern technology to expose what’s really going on, I will do, every single time,” Chambers told the BBC. He claimed the video was prompted after his request for a special council meeting to discuss an overspend was refused.

Gloucester City Council recently revealed it faces potential bankruptcy and is seeking a government bailout of up to £17.5 million.

Standards and Safety Concerns

The Liberal Democrat group described the video as “appalling” and called for a formal complaints and standards investigation. A spokesperson said: “Gloucester deserves councillors whose priority is the city and the residents they serve. Not cheap stunts. Not mockery.”

When asked about people potentially believing the video is real, Chambers said he was “not concerned.”

Looking Forward

The case highlights emerging questions about AI-generated content in political discourse. While deepfake technology becomes increasingly accessible, the boundaries around its use in public debate remain largely undefined. A special meeting on the council’s finances is scheduled for next week.

Source: BBC News