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Freedom251 › Blog › AI deepfakes

How to Report AI-Generated Political Impersonation or Deepfakes

By Freedom251 Team · · 14 min read

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If you encounter a suspected AI-generated political deepfake, preserve the original and its context, verify the claim through an independently known official channel, report the post to the platform, and contact the FBI if it may involve election crime. False information about when, where, or how to vote deserves particular urgency. Call 911 or local police if someone faces imminent danger. AI generation alone does not make content illegal; what matters is the conduct and harm involved.

What should I do first when I find a suspected political deepfake?

Capture the evidence before the post disappears or changes, and do not share it while you check whether it is real. An authentic-looking video, a suspicious voice, or a platform label is not enough by itself to establish what happened.

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  1. Save what you can. Preserve the original file or message when possible. Take screenshots that show the account name or handle, the post URL, date and time, captions, comments, and visible engagement. Keep relevant audio or video recordings and the original communications.
  2. Record where you found it. Note the account handle and URL so a platform or authority can locate the specific content. Do not forward, quote-post, or reply to the suspected impersonator while verifying it; those actions can spread the material further.
  3. Check through a known channel. Look for confirmation from the relevant state or local election office, the named campaign or official, or another trusted source. Use contact information you identify independently—not a phone number, link, or account supplied by the suspicious post.
  4. Choose the reporting route based on the harm. Use the platform’s reporting flow for the content itself. If it appears to involve election crime, report it to the FBI; use IC3 for internet-enabled crime and CISA’s reporting channel for relevant cyber incidents. Escalate an immediate danger to emergency services.

The Department of Justice says that preserving original communications and screenshots or audio or video recordings helps the FBI assess suspected criminal election activity. Its guidance applies whether the communications were AI-generated or not.

Do not make the suspected post more visible

Checking a claim does not require engaging with the account that posted it. Do not download suspicious software, click unfamiliar links, or provide personal information to an account claiming to be a candidate or election office. Save the URL and handle, then use an independently located reporting or verification channel. If you must show the material to a colleague or authority, send the preserved evidence privately rather than reposting it publicly.

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Keep a simple timeline

Write down when you first saw the item, when you saved it, when you checked official sources, and when you submitted each report. Note whether the content was edited, removed, relabeled, or reposted. A timeline helps a platform, election office, or investigator understand how the claim traveled without requiring you to speculate about who made it.

How do I decide where to report it?

There is no single route that replaces all the others: a platform can review a post under its policies, while election officials can help verify voting information and authorities can assess suspected crimes. Choose the route that matches the immediate problem, and use more than one when the situation warrants it.

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Situation Where to report What that route is for
The suspicious video, voice, or account is posted on a social or other online platform. The platform’s in-app report flow Ask the service to review the content under its available categories, such as manipulated media, impersonation, voter suppression, fraud, or election misinformation.
The content may involve threats, fraud, foreign influence, or knowingly false information about the time, place, or manner of voting. Your local FBI field office or Election Crime Coordinator Report suspected criminal or potentially criminal election activity. FBI/CISA guidance specifically identifies knowingly false voting information designed to deprive people of the right to vote as reportable.
The suspected activity is an internet-enabled crime. IC3 Use the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reporting route for relevant online crime. It does not replace contacting the FBI about suspected election crime.
The incident involves a relevant cybersecurity issue. CISA’s reporting channel Report a cyber incident within CISA’s remit. This is a separate route from a platform’s content-moderation process.
Someone faces imminent danger or risk of harm. 911 or local police Get an immediate safety response rather than waiting for a platform review or non-emergency reporting process.

FBI/CISA guidance recommends reporting suspicious or criminal activity, including knowingly false information about voting logistics intended to deprive people of the right to vote, to a local FBI field office. DOJ likewise advises reporting criminal or potentially criminal election activity—including activity that may involve generative AI—to a local FBI Election Crime Coordinator.

Use the routes together when the harms overlap

A cloned campaign voice that tells voters to use the wrong polling place may warrant a platform report, confirmation with the election office, and an FBI report. If the same incident includes a compromised account or malicious link, CISA may be relevant; if money or credentials were requested online, IC3 may also be appropriate. An emergency call is not delayed by any of these reports. Tell each recipient which other routes you used and give the same preserved URL, files, and timeline so the accounts can be connected.

How do I report the content on a platform?

Open the post’s in-app reporting option and select the narrowest accurate category the service offers. The exact labels and interface can change, so describe the suspected manipulation and election-related harm in the explanation field rather than relying on a particular button name.

  1. Open the specific post, message, or account, and choose its report option.
  2. Select the closest available category, such as manipulated media, impersonation, voter suppression, fraud, or election misinformation.
  3. In any explanation box, identify what is being impersonated, what makes the content concerning, and whether it gives false voting instructions or includes a threat. Distinguish what you observed from what you have independently confirmed.
  4. Include the URL and account handle, and keep your own copy of the evidence and submission details where possible.

A platform report asks the service to review its content or account under its policies; it is not a legal finding that a deepfake exists or that a crime occurred. If the post suggests a threat, fraud, foreign influence, or false voting logistics, consider the appropriate authority route as well.

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Describe facts, not conclusions

A useful report can say, “This account uses the candidate’s name and logo, and the video tells viewers that the election date changed. The state election office’s independently listed website gives a different date. The post appeared at 14:05 UTC on [date].” That is more actionable than simply writing “AI fake.” If you cannot determine whether the media was generated, say it is suspected manipulation and identify the observable discrepancy.

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What should I include when contacting the FBI, IC3, CISA, or an election office?

Give investigators and election administrators a concise, organized packet of facts. Start with the original file or message and the URL, then explain the impersonated person or institution, the claimed event, and the potential harm. Include the account handle, platform, date and time, captions, comments, engagement indicators, and any reposts you documented. State how you independently checked the claim and provide the official contact or page you used.

Identify urgent features clearly: a threat to a person or facility, a request for money or credentials, a foreign-language or foreign-government connection you can document, or false instructions about the time, place, or manner of voting. Do not infer an actor’s nationality or intent merely from an accent, image, or writing style. Separate direct observations from suspicions, and preserve the unedited originals in case a recipient asks for them.

For an online crime report, IC3 is an FBI route for internet-enabled crime; it does not replace notifying the FBI about suspected election crime. CISA’s channel is for relevant cyber incidents, not a substitute for a platform’s content report. Election officials can help correct voting information, but they are not a replacement for emergency services or a criminal report when threats or fraud are present.

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How can I check whether a political video or voice is genuine?

Seek confirmation from the person or organization being impersonated through contact details you locate independently. FBI guidance warns that AI-generated content can be difficult to identify, so visual or audio clues should be treated as leads—not proof.

Verify the source, not just the appearance

Check the relevant election office, official campaign or government channels, and other trusted sources. If the content claims that a candidate, official, or election authority issued an instruction, look for that instruction on a known official channel or confirm it through an independently identified phone number.

Inspect details cautiously

The FBI’s May 15, 2025 alert recommends checking contact details, URLs, spelling, and subtle image or video irregularities. These checks may help you spot a suspicious message, but a polished clip can still be false and genuine footage can be edited or mislabeled. The strongest check is independent confirmation from the named person, campaign, government office, or election authority through a channel you already know to be legitimate.

Do not treat labels or missing labels as a verdict

FBI/CISA guidance recommends checking platform policies and AI labels, but a label is only one piece of context. The existence or absence of a label does not substitute for independent verification. A platform may apply a label after you report the post, and another service may display the same file without one.

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What evidence should I save before reporting?

Keep enough material to show what was posted, where it appeared, and why it matters. Preserve the original communication when possible, since a screenshot alone may omit context or make it harder to locate the source.

  • The content: the original file or message, plus an audio or video recording if available.
  • The location: the exact post URL and account handle or name.
  • The context: screenshots showing the caption, date and time, comments, and visible engagement.
  • The claim and possible harm: a brief factual note about what the content says or depicts, such as a false instruction about voting time, place, or manner.
  • Your verification: the official channel you checked and what it confirmed or did not confirm.
  • The chain of events: when you saw, saved, reported, or rechecked the item, and whether it was later edited or removed.

Keep the files and notes in their original form where practical, and avoid editing the content you submit as evidence. DOJ specifically says original communications and screenshots or audio and video recordings can assist the FBI in assessing suspected criminal activity.

Protect the evidence and yourself

Store copies in a location you can access without altering the originals, and keep the URL and account information with each file. Do not expose private phone numbers, addresses, or unrelated bystanders when sharing screenshots publicly. Send sensitive material only through the official reporting route you independently locate. If the content itself contains malware or a suspicious attachment, do not open it on a work or election-office network; report the cyber concern through the appropriate CISA or organizational channel.

When does a political deepfake become a legal or election concern?

AI generation by itself does not establish illegality. The relevant question is whether the conduct involves something such as a threat, fraud, or interference with people’s ability to exercise their right to vote.

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DOJ explains that generative AI is not inherently criminal and is generally protected expression, while also warning that it can facilitate threats, fraud, and deprivation of voting rights through election disinformation. Its guidance is to report criminal or potentially criminal election activity promptly to a local FBI Election Crime Coordinator. A suspected fake that gives knowingly false information about when, where, or how to vote is especially important to report because that misinformation can interfere directly with voting.

The FTC’s Trade Regulation Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses, effective April 1, 2024, prohibits impersonation of government, businesses, and their officials or agents in interstate commerce. That rule should not be read as a blanket ban on every AI-generated political statement or candidate impersonation; the broader facts and applicable law matter.

FBI/CISA have also described generative-AI deepfakes as a tactic used in foreign malign influence operations intended to undermine confidence in democratic institutions. That context is a reason to verify and report suspicious activity, not proof that any particular clip is foreign-directed.

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What pitfalls should I avoid?

  • Amplifying the claim while debunking it: Reposting the clip, quote-posting it, or arguing with the account can increase its reach. Preserve the link and report privately instead.
  • Relying on one visual tell: Odd hands, lip-sync, shadows, or a robotic voice may be clues, but none proves fabrication. AI-generated content can be difficult to identify, and real footage can be edited or mislabeled.
  • Using contact details supplied by the post: A convincing fake may direct you to another fake account or phone number. Find the election office, campaign, or government contact independently.
  • Assuming a label settles the issue: AI labels vary by platform and do not authenticate the underlying claim.
  • Waiting for certainty: You can report suspected manipulation while clearly stating what you know, what you checked, and what remains uncertain.
  • Treating every deepfake as foreign interference or a crime: Attribution and legality depend on facts. Report evidence and harm rather than guessing at the creator.
  • Sending only a cropped screenshot: Without the URL, account, timestamp, caption, or original file, reviewers may not be able to locate or assess the post.

What should election offices and campaigns prepare?

Election offices and campaigns can reduce confusion by establishing a verification route before a manipulated video or cloned voice appears. A response plan should let the public and staff confirm important messages without relying on the channel under attack.

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  • Maintain a verification phone number or alternate communication channel that can be independently identified.
  • Keep escalation contacts for counsel and appropriate authorities, including the FBI, EI-ISAC, and CISA.
  • Use an incident log to record the content, accounts, URLs, timing, evidence preserved, reports made, and response steps.
  • Prepare a rapid-response communications plan for publishing accurate voting information through trusted channels.
  • Assign responsibility for monitoring reports, preserving originals, coordinating with legal and security staff, and issuing corrections.
  • Prepare plain-language messages that state the correct voting time, place, and manner without repeating unnecessary portions of the false claim.

When an AI voice clone or manipulated video appears, document the incident, notify counsel and relevant authorities, and publish accurate information through established channels. A prepared alternate route is especially useful when the content falsely claims to speak for the office or changes voting instructions.

Staff should preserve the first version they see, not just a later repost, and should record whether the material appeared in direct messages, advertisements, official-looking accounts, or public posts. Coordinate corrections across the office’s established channels so voters can find one consistent answer. If there is a threat or immediate safety concern, contact 911 or local police while the communications response proceeds.

What are the key facts to remember?

  1. Preserve the original evidence and its context before reporting.
  2. Verify through a state or local election official, campaign, government office, or other independently known channel.
  3. Report the content in-platform and report suspected election crime to the FBI; use IC3 or CISA for relevant online-crime or cyber-incident routes.
  4. False information about when, where, or how to vote is a priority reporting category.
  5. Call 911 for imminent danger.
  6. AI generation alone does not establish illegality; the conduct and harm matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the FTC impersonation rule cover every fake candidate video?

No. The rule described by the FTC applies to impersonation of government, businesses, and their officials or agents in interstate commerce. It is not a general prohibition on all political deepfakes, and whether a particular post violates a law depends on its specific conduct and circumstances.

Can a platform’s AI label prove that a political clip is fake?

No. A label can be useful context, but it is not an independent authentication of the clip or its claims. Confirm the information with the person or organization through a channel you identify separately.

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Should I report something if I am not certain it is AI-generated?

You can describe it as suspected manipulation and report the observable facts without claiming certainty. Preserve the source and explain what needs verification; authorities and platforms can assess the evidence.

Does a deepfake automatically mean foreign interference?

No. FBI/CISA identify AI deepfakes as one possible tactic in foreign influence operations, but that context does not establish who created or distributed a particular clip. Report relevant evidence rather than inferring attribution from appearance alone.

What if the deepfake gives the wrong polling time or location?

Save the post and its context, verify the correct information with the relevant state or local election office, report the post to the platform, and contact your local FBI field office or Election Crime Coordinator. Knowingly false information about when, where, or how to vote is specifically identified as reportable when intended to deprive people of the right to vote.

Should I contact the FBI and the platform, or choose one?

Use both when appropriate. The platform can review content under its policies; the FBI can assess suspected criminal election activity. Include the same URL, preserved files, timeline, and factual description in each report.

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What if the post has already been deleted?

Submit the screenshots, saved file or recording, URL, account handle, timestamps, captions, and any repost locations you preserved. Tell the recipient that the original is no longer visible and distinguish what you saw directly from what others reposted.

When should I call 911 instead of filing an online report?

Call 911 or local police when someone faces imminent danger or risk of harm. Do not wait for a platform response, an election-office reply, or a non-emergency FBI or IC3 submission.

Can I report a suspected deepfake without proving who created it?

Yes. Report the observable content, impersonated person or office, account and URL, potential harm, and your independent verification. Do not guess at attribution; investigators can determine what additional evidence is needed.

The Bottom Line

Save the original and its context, avoid amplifying the material, and verify the claim through a contact route you find independently. Report the post to the platform; report suspected election crime to your local FBI field office or Election Crime Coordinator, and use IC3 or CISA when the facts fit those routes. False voting instructions deserve prompt attention, while imminent danger requires 911. A deepfake is not automatically illegal, so focus your report on the conduct, evidence, and potential harm.

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