SAGINAW, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s latest political controversy isn’t about tax policy or crumbling roads – it’s about digital deception. A series of AI-generated deepfake videos recently circulated online falsely portraying a Republican candidate as gay and aligned with a transgender advocacy group, fueling voter confusion and renewed scrutiny in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence. A deepfake is AI-generated media that makes it look or sound like someone said or did something they never actually did.
A now-deleted website and Facebook page were uncovered portraying Saginaw attorney Jason Tunney, a candidate in the 35th Senate District’s February 3 special primary, as gay and backed by a transgender group calling itself “Tranneys for Tunney.” Included were videos showing Tunney kissing another man and speaking in front of pro-LGBTQ+ messaging. Tunney, who is not gay, is married to a woman named Pamela and is a conservative Republican.
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According to the Detroit News, the videos were not authentic, but their rapid spread throughout east- central Michigan has raised concerns about how easily artificial intelligence can blur the line between fact and fabrication in modern politics.
2023 Michigan law targeted AI deception in political campaigns.
Michigan enacted updated election laws in late 2023 (effective February 13, 2024) to crack down on deceptive AI media, requiring campaigns to label AI-altered content and penalizing anyone who tries to swindle voters with “deepfakes.”
Michigan now requires political ads that use AI-generated images, audio, or video to be clearly labeled so voters aren’t misled by deepfakes posing as reality. The law doesn’t ban AI outright – though some critics wish it did – but aims to stop campaigns from using digital trickery to shape public opinion, especially close to an election.
Without clear disclosure, voters are left guessing what’s real and who’s actually speaking, a dangerous gray area for any democracy. That risk is amplified on platforms like Facebook, where deepfake-style content increasingly appears in feeds and only reveals it’s AI-generated after users have already watched it. The videos posted concerning Tunney were not labeled.
What should happen.
Theoretically, a political ad that uses AI-generated or manipulated media without a clear disclosure should trigger immediate enforcement action. The Attorney General’s office has authority to investigate and pursue penalties. That can include civil fines, court orders to take the content down, and in more serious cases – particularly if the deepfake is meant to intentionally deceive voters close to an election – potential criminal charges. The depicted candidate (Tunney) is also able to seek permanent injunctive relief in circuit court.
Michigan News Source reached out to Tunney who said there is an ongoing law enforcement investigation into the matter, confirming that Michigan State Police is investigating. He released the following statement: “Recent deepfake videos and the use of artificial intelligence maliciously targeting my campaign is an unlawful and deceptive attempt to influence the February 3 special primary election. This kind of conduct disrespects voters in the 35th State Senate District, who have already gone an entire year in the Senate without representation because of partisan games. Instead of debating real issues facing Bay, Midland, and Saginaw, an opponent has chosen to mislead voters with fabricated content. That is unacceptable. Candidates should be held to a higher standard, and voters deserve honest campaigns focused on facts, not digital deception.”
On the record.
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Tunney’s three GOP opponents denied that they had anything to do with the deepfakes although initially, Chadwick Twillman, had told the Detroit Free Press that people have the “freedom to do any type of freedom of speech that we want to do.”
Voters have to play human lie detector.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: Michigan voters now need to be half politicos, half forensic analysts. Between campaigns, parodies, and outright fabrications, what used to be obvious fakery now has the computing power to look surprisingly real – and suspiciously timed. Good luck distinguishing AI propaganda from policy proposals by lunch. And the Michigan legislation only says that deep fakers have to label their photos and videos. It doesn’t say they can’t produce and post them.
With major races looming across the state next year, the question isn’t whether deepfakes will be used again – it’s how many voters they’ll mislead before they are shut down. And if enforcement remains slow or optional, Michigan may be learning the hard way that “transparency” alone isn’t much of a safeguard in the age of artificial deception.
