Fears of AI disinformation cast shadow over Turkish local elections

Istanbul, Turkey – As nationwide local elections approach on March 31, there are concerns in Turkey about the growing threat of disinformation and fake media created through artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, a video spread across social media purportedly showing Istanbul's opposition mayor praising President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Ekrem Imamoglu, of the Republican People's Party (CHP), is seen in the video commending the "great steps" taken in public transport projects when the AK Party controlled Istanbul. While the video was widely discredited due to the substance of Imamoglu's "comments", it raised fears about media manipulation in an election where the AK Party is trying to retake cities won by the opposition in 2019. Political scandals over "leaked" recordings are nothing new in Turkey.