Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and voice cloning technology have recently sparked concerns regarding the spread of misinformation, particularly during election seasons. A video has been circulating on social media, claiming that former U.S. President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump expressed support for Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of Sri Lanka’s National People’s Power (NPP) party. Given the potential impact of such statements on public opinion and electoral integrity, we conducted a comprehensive fact-check to verify the authenticity of the video and its claims.
Social Media Posts
The video alleges that Donald Trump made the following statement endorsing NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake:
“Sri Lankan friends and family, I’m your next president for USA 2024. I also want you guys to support Anura 2024 ,become president of Sri Lanka, NPP, Jayawewa; only Anura Kumara can recover Sri Lanka; he is a great honest man with humanity. I’m a huge Anura fan; you better vote for him. NPP Jayawewa”
Fact-Check
Our investigation, including a search through international mainstream media outlets, revealed no credible sources confirming such news. To delve deeper, we performed a reverse image search on keyframes from the viral video. This led us to an original 2017 video featuring Donald Trump, found on NBC’s international news website. In the original video, Trump is engaged in a discussion but never mentions Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Instead, the conversation revolves around Trump’s decision to dismiss FBI Director James Comey, ignoring the recommendations of the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General.
Based on these findings, it is clear that the circulating video has been manipulated using voice-cloning technology to falsely attribute an endorsement of Dissanayake to Trump. Similar manipulations of Trump’s videos have surfaced in the past. For instance, a previous instance, debunked by AFP Pakistan, falsely implied that Trump had called for the release of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Imran Khan.
AI and Voice Cloning Tools
AI technology, particularly voice cloning, has become increasingly sophisticated, allowing for the creation of deepfake audio that mimics the voices of public figures. In the context of elections, this technology poses significant risks. Malicious actors can generate fabricated audio statements, falsely attributing controversial remarks to political candidates. Such actions can mislead voters, damage reputations, and distort public opinion, undermining trust in the democratic process and creating confusion.
As many nations prepare for elections this year, global surveys highlight the growing threat of AI-driven disinformation campaigns. The cloning of political leaders’ voices to create fake statements is contributing to public discord and eroding confidence in the integrity of electoral processe
