The Buffalo News Editorial Board criticized Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman’s use of artificial intelligence in campaign advertising, arguing that manipulated videos and campaign mailings risk misleading New York voters.
The editorial, highlighted Tuesday by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s campaign, said the issue goes beyond ordinary political attacks and pointed to a complaint filed by the New York Democratic Committee with the state Board of Elections.
According to the editorial, the complaint alleges Blakeman violated state election law through the use of artificial intelligence in campaign ads. The editorial did not describe the complaint’s procedural status or identify any decision by election officials.
Blakeman’s campaign has described its AI-generated material as satire, according to the editorial. The board argued that viewers may miss disclaimers or believe manipulated video and audio are authentic, particularly when the material uses what sounds like another person’s voice.
The editorial said at least one campaign video lacked a disclaimer. It cited a provision added to New York election law in 2024 that requires a disclosure when audio, video or images qualify as “materially deceptive media.”
The board also criticized campaign mail sent to thousands of New York City property owners. According to the editorial, the letters resembled tax assessment notices and claimed recipients’ secondary properties had been identified as subject to a proposed pied-à-terre tax.
The mailings were campaign fundraising solicitations rather than government notices and included a disclaimer, contribution form and return envelope, the editorial said.
The editorial quoted election attorney Sarah Steiner as saying that lying or misleading voters is not necessarily illegal, while describing the mailing strategy as manipulative. The board argued that conduct described as technically legal should not be the standard for a candidate seeking statewide office.
Hochul’s campaign distributed excerpts from the editorial but did not include a separate response from the Blakeman campaign or the status of the Democratic Committee’s complaint.
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