A deepfake video appearing to show Boris Johnson endorsing Jeremy Corbyn for prime minister has been released online.
In the video, made by artificial intelligence (AI) think tank Future Advocacy, the Prime Minister appears to endorse Mr Corbyn.
However, the eerily-convincing footage is fake, and has been heavily edited with the use of machine learning by Future Advocacy in a bid to apply pressure on British MPs to address the spread of deepfakes online.
In the video, the fake Mr Johnson tells the camera: "Hi folks, I am here with a very special message. Since that momentous day in 2016 division has coursed through our country as we argue with fantastic passion, vim and vigour about Brexit."
He then endorses "the Right Honourable Mr Jeremy Corbyn" for Prime Minister before admitting that he is not the real Mr Johnson.
In another video made by the think tank, what appears to be Mr Corbyn endorses Mr Johnson as a Prime Minister "for the many not the few".
The fake Mr Corbyn says: "I'm urging all Labour members and supporters to consider people before privilege and back Boris Johnson to continue as our prime minister."
Areeq Chowdhury, head of Future Advocacy, said the videos aim to apply pressure on British lawmakers to address deepfakes online.
She said: “Deepfakes represent a genuine threat to democracy and society more widely. They can be used to fuel misinformation and totally undermine trust in audiovisual content.
"Despite warnings over the past few years, politicians have so far collectively failed to address the issue of disinformation online.
"Instead the response has been to defer to tech companies to do more. The responsibility for protecting our democracy lies in the corridors of Westminster not the boardrooms of Silicon Valley.
"By releasing these deepfakes, we aim to use shock and humour to inform the public and put pressure on our lawmakers.
"This issue should be put above party politics. We urge all politicians to work together to update our laws and protect society from the threat of deepfakes, fake news, and micro-targeted political adverts online.”
