AI Videos Fuel Rhetoric as Orbán Seeks Fourth Term in Hungary

In the lead-up to Hungary’s critical elections on 12 April, an AI-created video circulated online, depicting a soldier’s execution. The disturbing scene, showing a young girl watching her father—bound and blindfolded—being shot, sparked outrage and concern among voters. This clip, shared by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party in February, aimed to undermine his election rival, Péter Magyar, who could challenge his 16-year rule.

“The video is an AI video, but the war is really horrible,” the clip states, adding, “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.”

Fidesz has repeatedly used unverified claims about Ukraine’s conflict to criticize Magyar, accusing him of supporting the war and potentially bringing it closer to Hungary. The party’s strategy includes allegations that Magyar would divert pension funds to aid Ukraine and introduce compulsory military service. However, Magyar’s party, Tisza, has dismissed these accusations, asserting it will not deploy troops to Ukraine and has no plans to revive conscription.

Támas Menczer, communications director of the Fidesz-KNDP alliance, defended the AI video in a Facebook interview, stating that “the greatest possible danger is that Hungarian people could die if Tisza wins.” He linked the video to Magyar’s alleged support for Ukraine, but admitted the video’s AI origin was not explicitly addressed. Magyar called the clip “heartless manipulation,” accusing Fidesz of crossing ethical boundaries.

Earlier this month, a pro-Fidesz activist group shared another AI-generated video, featuring a fictional phone call between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Magyar. The clip claimed Magyar would be unable to refuse funding Ukraine, amassing over 3.7 million views. Despite being labeled fake, the video was widely disseminated by government-aligned media and Fidesz politicians, including Orbán himself.

Éva Bognár, a researcher at the Central European University’s Democracy Institute, described the campaign as a “disinformation effort,” rooted in a false narrative of impending war. Meanwhile, Hungary’s anti-terrorism police recently detained seven Ukrainian bank workers carrying $80 million in cash and 9 kilograms of gold. The government accused them of laundering money to finance pro-Ukraine forces, though the workers argued their journey was routine and legally sanctioned.

While Fidesz and its allies have relied heavily on AI content to shape public opinion, the strategy has not significantly shifted voter sentiment. Magyar remains ahead in most polls, suggesting the tactics may not be enough to secure Orbán’s fourth term.