The Dominican Republic condemned a Facebook post by Spain’s People’s Party featuring an AI-generated video linking the nation to corruption. The video, titled “The Island of Corruption,” prompted an apology from Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who expressed shame over the incident. This controversy reflects the growing use of AI in political campaigning, targeting younger voters on social media.
The Dominican Republic has expressed its disapproval of a recent AI-generated video released by Spain’s conservative People’s Party (PP), which indirectly associated the nation with corruption. The video featured Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and was titled “The Island of Corruption,” referencing the popular reality show “The Island of Temptations,” produced in the Dominican Republic. The PP has since removed the video, which received over 400,000 views, claiming no intention to harm the Caribbean nation’s reputation.
In an official statement, the Dominican Foreign Ministry condemned the video as a “vicious and incomprehensible attack” that irresponsibly exploited its national symbols for domestic political disputes in Spain. Following the backlash, Prime Minister Sanchez, who had not initially seen the video, expressed his “deep shame” and apologized on behalf of Spain.
This incident follows a recent controversy involving an AI video by U.S. President Donald Trump, which offended many by depicting the Gaza Strip as a vacation destination. The increasing use of AI technology in political campaigning presents a new avenue for creating content, particularly among parties seeking to engage the youth demographic through social media. The PP’s rivalry with the far-right Vox signifies a competitive landscape focused on appealing to vibrant online communities, as younger voters predominantly turn to digital platforms for their news.
The Dominican Republic’s denunciation of the PP’s AI-generated video highlights the potential repercussions of employing artificial intelligence in political discourse. The resulting controversy accentuates the delicate relationship between nations and the responsibility of political parties to avoid misrepresentation. Prime Minister Sanchez’s apology underscores Spain’s stance on maintaining diplomatic integrity, especially in the light of increasing AI usage in political campaigns.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
