The 2026 midterm election cycle has been dominated by 'slopaganda', campaign ads featuring AI-generated clips and images, with more than $187 million spent on nearly 300 ads generated or enhanced by AI, according to an analysis by the Wesleyan Media Project. The analysis found that over 90% of the spending came from Republican candidates, a Republican party committee or a Republican-leaning group, and most ads do not include disclosures. The ads create another challenge for platforms like YouTube, Instagram and X as they attempt to monitor their platforms. There is no comprehensive federal law governing AI use or disclosure in political ads, while some 30 states have laws with different requirements.
The term slopaganda was used by a group of AI experts in a paper early last year to describe the combination of generative AI slop with propaganda and misinformation. While some 30 states have laws with different requirements about AI use and disclosure, candidates do not always comply, and there is no comprehensive federal law governing the practice.
CNBC found a number of AI-generated ads running online without disclosures. In New York, a fake video of Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul was posted by her Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman. In Texas, Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton created an AI-generated video of his Democratic opponent James Talarico making controversial statements, with a three-second disclosure. Paxton's campaign is sharing it as organic content on YouTube and X. Neither campaign immediately responded to requests for comment.
YouTube told CNBC that the company applies “prominent labels to realistic AI content.” “For organic content on YouTube, political candidates can request removal where their face appears to be altered or generated by AI,” the company said. “For advertisers, we require disclosure when an election ad contains synthetic or digitally altered people or events to provide viewers with transparency.” Google also requires political ads to complete its election ads verification process and include “paid for by” disclosures.
X says advertisers must comply with applicable laws, putting responsibility on the advertiser rather than the platform. Meta referred to its guidelines on political ads, including restrictions on their use in the week prior to the election, mandatory “paid for by” labels, and a new “about this ad” tool for ads detected as created with third-party AI tools.
The bipartisan Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act would prohibit knowingly distributing materially deceptive AI-generated video or audio about federal candidates. The AI Ads Act, led by Democrats, is looking to expand current bans on campaign misrepresentation to include generative AI content. None of the bills have advanced out of committee.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Voters may be exposed to deceptive AI-generated content without clear disclaimers, undermining informed choice.
- The vast majority of spending from one party raises concerns about partisan asymmetry in AI misuse.
- Platforms’ inconsistent enforcement highlights gaps in self-regulation and the need for federal rules.
Background
The use of generative AI in political advertising has exploded in the 2026 midterms, building on trends seen in earlier cycles. The term “slopaganda” was introduced in early 2025 by researchers to describe low-quality AI-generated propaganda. Unlike traditional ads, AI-generated content can be cheaply produced and rapidly shared, making it difficult for platforms to police. There is currently no federal law requiring disclosure of AI in political ads; a patchwork of state laws exists but is poorly enforced.
Key Perspectives
YouTube: says it applies “prominent labels to realistic AI content” and allows political candidates to request removal of altered AI-generated images of themselves; also requires disclosure for election ads with synthetic content.
X: says advertisers must comply with applicable laws, placing responsibility on the advertiser.
Meta: refers to its guidelines, including “paid for by” labels, a political ad library, and a new “about this ad” tool for AI-detected ads.
Brennan Center for Justice: found that major AI models can be manipulated to create misleading election content, though some have improved since August.
Bipartisan senators: back the Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act, which would prohibit knowingly distributing materially deceptive AI-generated video or audio about federal candidates.
Democratic lawmakers: are leading the AI Ads Act, which would expand current campaign misrepresentation bans to include generative AI content.
What to Watch
- Whether the proposed federal AI election bills gain traction in the next session of Congress.
- How platforms enforce their policies in the final week before Election Day, given Meta’s self-imposed restrictions.
- The response from state attorneys general to undisclosed AI ads under existing state laws.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
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- SupportedAI-generated “slopaganda” is challenging platforms during the midterms.US Top News and Analysis: “The midterm election cycle has been dominated by "slopaganda," or campaign ads featuring AI-generated clips and images, creating another challenge for Instagram, YouTube and X as they attempt to monitor their platforms.”
- Partly supportedMore than $187 million was spent on nearly 300 AI-enhanced ads.US Top News and Analysis: “More than $187 million has been spent on nearly 300 ads generated or enhanced by AI, according to an analysis released last week by the Wesleyan Media Project .”
- Partly supportedOver 90% of the spending came from Republican candidates.US Top News and Analysis: “Over 90% of the spending came from Republican candidates, a Republican party committee or a Republican-leaning group, the report found, and most don't include disclosures.”
- SupportedThere is no comprehensive federal law governing AI use or disclosure in political ads.US Top News and Analysis: “There's no comprehensive federal law governing the use or disclosure of AI in political ads.”
- SupportedSome 30 states have laws with different requirements about AI use and disclosure.US Top News and Analysis: “And while there are some 30 state laws with different requirements about AI use and disclosure, candidates don't always abide by them.”
- SupportedA group of AI experts used the term “slopaganda” in a paper early last year for generative AI slop combined with propaganda and misinformation.US Top News and Analysis: “The term slopaganda dates back to early last year, when a group of AI experts used it in a paper to describe a new phenomenon combining generative AI slop with propaganda and misinformation.”
- SupportedBruce Blakeman posted a fake video of New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul.US Top News and Analysis: “CNBC found a number of AI-generated ads running online without disclosures, including a fake video of New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul that was posted by her opponent, Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman.”
- SupportedKen Paxton created an AI-generated video showing James Talarico making controversial statements, with a three-second disclosure.US Top News and Analysis: “In Texas, Republican senatorial candidate Ken Paxton created an AI-generated video showing Democratic opponent James Talarico making controversial statements, with a three-second disclosure flashing in the middle.”
- SupportedPaxton’s campaign is sharing the video as organic content on YouTube and X.US Top News and Analysis: “It's being shared as organic content on YouTube and X by Paxton's campaign.”
- SupportedYouTube said it applies “prominent labels to realistic AI content.”US Top News and Analysis: “YouTube told CNBC that the company applies "prominent labels to realistic AI content."”
- SupportedYouTube said political candidates can request removal of organic content where their face appears altered or AI-generated.US Top News and Analysis: “"For organic content on YouTube, political candidates can request removal where their face appears to be altered or generated by AI," the company said.”
- SupportedYouTube said advertisers must disclose election ads containing synthetic or digitally altered people or events.US Top News and Analysis: “"For advertisers, we require disclosure when an election ad contains synthetic or digitally altered people or events to provide viewers with transparency."”