Wisconsin congressional candidate Rebecca Cooke has issued a formal cease-and-desist letter to Representative Derrick Van Orden, accusing him of airing false attack ads that utilize AI-generated content that misrepresents her. This confrontation highlights growing concerns over the use of AI in political campaigns.
The legal notice was sent via Ben Stafford of Elias Law Group on behalf of Cooke for Congress. It specifically targets a video released by Van Orden’s campaign on August 4, which allegedly features Cooke speaking in Eau Claire, with former President Joe Biden supposedly appearing behind her.
According to the letter, the footage falsely attributes a statement to Cooke about providing free electricity to Wisconsinites “as much as possible,” suggesting that this would lead to corruption. Cooke’s team asserts that this claim is entirely fabricated.
Stafford’s letter outlines a defamation case under Wisconsin law, asserting that the AI-generated video fulfills the legal criteria: a false statement, published to a third party, made with “actual malice,” thus damaging Cooke’s reputation.
“By producing this AI-generated image of Ms. Cooke for the patently obvious purpose of harming her reputation for your own political advantage,” the letter reads, calling the video “defamatory.”
Additionally, the letter criticizes Van Orden’s campaign for taking advantage of limitations in Wisconsin law, noting that while the state has a deepfake disclosure statute, it currently only applies to state-level campaign committees, not federal candidates.
“Not only are these ads beneath the dignity of your office,” Stafford argues, “but Wisconsin’s common law of defamation fills the gaps yet remaining in Wisconsin’s statutory protections against fake AI.”
This controversy emerges during a politically charged time in Wisconsin, with Cooke advocating for a moratorium on new data centers due to their environmental impacts, while Van Orden has shown support for expanding such operations.
“The people of Wisconsin deserve better,” Stafford affirms in the letter, emphasizing the need for a campaign centered on real issues rather than personal attacks. “Instead, you are spending your day posting AI slop disparaging Ms. Cooke. Enough.”
Van Orden has been a polarizing figure in Wisconsin politics, having been present during the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and recently caught on camera expressing a desire to “(expletive) punch someone in the face.”
This incident raises broader questions about the ethics of using AI in political campaigns, especially as regulations around the technology remain in flux. As candidates increasingly turn to innovative, yet controversial tactics, public trust in the political process could be jeopardized.
Cooke, a rising star in the Democratic Party, contends that voters deserve campaigns that provide transparent discussions of policy rather than fabrications intended to mislead and manipulate public perception.
The implications of this battle extend beyond the candidates; it reflects national concerns regarding misinformation and the role of technology in shaping political narratives.
Legal experts note that cases like this may set precedents for how AI-generated content can be regulated and how campaigns are held accountable for disseminating false information.
Cooke’s team is determined to fight the disinformation campaign, asserting that they will take legal action if the misleading ads continue to air.
The stakes are high in this electoral showdown, not just for Cooke and Van Orden, but for the integrity of political communication in the age of digital misinformation.
With both campaigns ramping up their efforts as the election approaches, it remains to be seen whether this rift will reshape the landscape of political discourse in Wisconsin and beyond.
As the public continues to grapple with the implications of AI and misinformation, Cooke’s pushback may resonate with voters who are increasingly skeptical of deceptive tactics in politics.
