AI Startup Synthesia Used in Propaganda Videos

Actors Dan Dewhirst and Mark Torres have spoken out about their likenesses being misused in AI-generated propaganda videos supporting oppressive regimes, specifically in Venezuela and Burkina Faso. Dewhirst, who signed a contract with Synthesia to create an AI avatar, was shocked to find his image used in a fake news report promoting false narratives about Venezuela's economy. Similarly, Torres expressed feelings of violation after discovering his likeness used in videos endorsing the military coup leader of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré. Both actors raised concerns about the lack of control over their images, which were used contrary to Synthesia's terms of service. In response to the backlash, Synthesia stated it has strengthened content moderation and banned accounts responsible for the misuse. The incidents highlight the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI-generated content, particularly its potential for misuse in political propaganda.