AI videos fuel rhetoric as Orbán bids for four more years in Hungary
AI videos fuel rhetoric as Orbán bids for four more years in Hungary
As the Hungarian elections approach, AI-generated content has become a central tool in shaping public opinion. A viral video depicting a soldier’s execution shocked viewers, showing a young girl watching from a window as her father is bound, blindfolded, and shot by captors. This clip, labeled as fake, was strategically shared on social media by the ruling Fidesz party in February, ahead of the April 12 vote. The goal: to undermine opposition leader Péter Magyar, who could challenge Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year tenure.
Fidesz has repeatedly linked Magyar to alleged support for Ukraine’s war, claiming he would bring conflict to Hungary’s borders if elected. The party accused him of using pension funds to finance the war and pushing for compulsory military service. While Magyar’s party, Tisza, denies these claims and promises to avoid troop deployment, Fidesz’s campaign has embraced AI videos to amplify its message. One such clip includes a voiceover stating, “The video is an AI video, but the war is really horrible. Péter Magyar doesn’t want you to see this video. He doesn’t want you to see what an irreversible tragedy it is to join a war.”
Magyar criticized Fidesz for crossing ethical boundaries, calling the video “heartless manipulation.” Meanwhile, the National Resistance Movement (NEM), a pro-Fidesz activist group, shared another AI clip last month. It showed a phone call between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Magyar, with the caption suggesting he would be forced to approve funding Ukraine. The video amassed over 3.7 million views before being exposed as fake. Despite this, pro-government media and Fidesz politicians, including Orbán, initially endorsed it.
Orbán acknowledged the AI origin of the videos but warned of their potential to materialize in real life. When asked about the execution clip, Fidesz remained silent. Támas Menczer, communications director of the Fidesz-KNDP alliance, defended the strategy, arguing, “The greatest possible danger is that Hungarian people could die if Tisza wins, because Tisza supports the war, Tisza supports sending money.” He did not confirm whether the video was AI-generated.
Political analysts note the widespread use of generative AI in the campaign. Éva Bognár, a researcher at the Central European University’s Democracy Institute, described it as “a state of hallucination.” She argued the entire campaign rests on a false narrative, framing Hungary as on the edge of war. Meanwhile, the anti-terrorism police recently detained seven Ukrainian bank workers carrying $80 million in cash and 9 kilograms of gold. The group, transiting from Austria to Ukraine, claimed their mission was routine, but the Hungarian government alleged they were laundering money to support pro-Ukraine forces.
Though the workers were released without charges, the incident highlights tensions between Hungary and Ukraine. Fidesz’s allies continue to spread similar anti-Ukrainian messages, leveraging AI to reinforce their claims. Despite these efforts, Magyar remains ahead in most polls, suggesting the disinformation may not be enough to sway the outcome.
AI’s role in political messaging
“Such narratives are not new, but the use of generative AI is,” said Zsófia Fülöp, a journalist at Hungary’s independent fact-checking site Lakmusz. “It is omnipresent in this campaign, especially in the communication of the ruling party and its media and proxies.” She added that the strategy’s effectiveness is questionable, as voters appear unaffected by the fabricated content.
