77% of US voters fear AI election manipulation: Why deepfakes are raising alarm ahead of midterms

Political campaigns across the United States have entered a new digital era during the 2026 midterm elections. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just an experimental technology. It is now being used as an active tool in political campaigns.From realistic fake audio recordings targeting candidates just hours before polling begins to automated tools that create and target AI-generated video ads, the technology is making it harder for voters to decide what information they can trust. Election monitors and political strategists are struggling to deal with an online environment where genuine campaign material is becoming increasingly difficult to separate from computer-generated content.Public concern about the impact of AI-generated media has reached high levels. A survey by the Bipartisan Policy Center found that 77 per cent of voters were deeply concerned about the use of artificial intelligence to spread false information or influence public opinion during this election cycle. The findings show that voters across the political spectrum share these concerns, with majorities from both major parties identifying deepfakes and automated persuasion as serious threats to...