AI videos fuel rhetoric as Orbán bids for four more years in Hungary

AI videos fuel rhetoric as Orbán bids for four more years in Hungary

As Hungary prepares for critical elections on 12 April, the ruling Fidesz party has deployed AI-generated content to shape public opinion. One such video, which circulated widely on social media, depicts a soldier being executed—a stark image that initially stunned viewers. The clip, appearing to show a young girl watching her father’s death from a window, was shared by Fidesz in February, just months before the vote.

Fake clips target opposition leader

The video is designed to undermine Péter Magyar, a rival candidate from the Tisza party, who could challenge Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s long-standing rule. Fidesz has made vague accusations about Ukraine and Magyar’s alleged support for the conflict, even while acknowledging the video’s artificial nature. “The video is an AI creation, but the war’s devastation is real,” it declares, framing Magyar as someone who hides the grim reality of military involvement.

Magyar has dismissed the video as “heartless manipulation,” calling out Fidesz for crossing ethical boundaries. Meanwhile, the National Resistance Movement (NEM), a pro-Fidesz group, recently shared another AI video. It shows a fictional conversation between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Magyar, where he supposedly agrees to send funds to Ukraine. The clip amassed over 3.7 million views, though NEM did not clarify its AI origin.

Disinformation tactics and their impact

Researchers note that while AI-driven disinformation isn’t new in Hungary, its scale in this campaign is unprecedented. Éva Bognár of the Central European University’s Democracy Institute describes the effort as a “state of hallucination,” emphasizing how the entire campaign relies on a false narrative of impending war. Despite this, Magyar remains ahead in most polls, suggesting the strategy hasn’t significantly swayed voters.

Earlier this month, Hungarian anti-terrorism police detained seven Ukrainian workers carrying $80 million in cash and 9 kilograms of gold. The group was traveling from Austria to Ukraine, but the government claimed the transaction aimed to “finance pro-Ukraine forces.” Though the workers were released, the incident highlights the broader use of AI to amplify political narratives. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister accused Hungary of seizing the group and seizing funds, while the state savings bank Oschadbank called the operation routine and lawful.

“We’re in a state of hallucination,” says Éva Bognár, a researcher at the Central European University’s Democracy Institute. “In a way the whole campaign is a disinformation campaign because it’s all based on a complete false narrative that we’re on the brink of war.”

Such tactics underscore the growing reliance on AI to blur the lines between fact and fiction in political discourse. As the election approaches, the influence of these videos on voter perception remains a subject of debate.