AI Deepfakes in Politics: Mississippi, Spain Face Backlash

Key Takeaways

• Mississippi AG ordered Scott Colom's campaign to remove AI deepfake ads by October 23, citing state laws with penalties up to 5 years in prison and $10,000 fines.
• Spain's opposition party PP used AI deepfakes of PM Sanchez's wife and Socialists in pre-election ads, sparking legal challenges and international concern about AI in elections.
• Meta stock fell 7% over AI investment concerns; Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warned of capital scarcity for AI projects as Nasdaq dropped 700 points.
• Infosys cut revenue guidance to 1-2% growth but reported AI services at 10.5% of total sales, up 29% sequentially, with $5.2 billion in large deal bookings.
• DeepSeek and MiniMax completed export registration under China's new AI export rules, allowing continued open-source releases and overseas licensing.
• Anthropic launched a European AI consultancy based in the UK, offering responsible AI strategy and implementation services to businesses.
• A new three-pillar framework proposes transparency, accountability, and trustworthiness as core principles for safe AI agent development.
• TradingView added AI capabilities to its Crypto Coins Screener, offering real-time data, price alerts, and risk assessment for top 100 cryptocurrencies.
• LTM opened the BlueVerse Industrial AI Lab in Chennai with computer vision, digital twins, and robotics zones for enterprise AI testing.
• Deutsche Bank named Snowflake, CrowdStrike, and Palo Alto Networks as AI beneficiaries but warned some valuations already reflect expected gains.

Mississippi AG demands Colom campaign remove AI deepfake video

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch ordered Scott Colom's campaign to remove AI-generated ads by October 23. The AG says the video violates state law against political deepfakes. The Mississippi Republican Party filed a complaint about the clip showing Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. Violations carry penalties of up to 5 years in prison and $10,000 fines. As of Friday morning, the video was still posted on the campaign's Facebook page.

Mississippi AG asks Colom campaign to take down AI video

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch asked Scott Colom's campaign to remove AI-generated ads posted on social media. She also asked the campaign to preserve all related records. The request followed a complaint from Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Mike Hurst. Hurst said the video posted October 1, 2026 showed a woman resembling Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. Breaking the law could mean up to 5 years in prison or a $10,000 fine if the goal was to stop people from voting.

Spain opposition deepfake video sparks outrage before election

Spain's main opposition party PP used AI-generated deepfakes in political ads ahead of the November 29 general election. The videos showed AI versions of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's wife and other Socialist party members appearing to admit wrongdoing. The Socialist party called the ads intolerable and said they spread lies. A former party member filed a legal challenge against the PP for defamation. Experts said the incident highlights the growing risk of AI deepfakes in elections worldwide.

Colom responds to AG request to remove AI campaign ads

Scott Colom responded to Attorney General Lynn Fitch's request to remove AI-generated campaign ads. Fitch had sent the request after the Mississippi Republican Party complained about a clip depicting Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith running from reporters. The AG gave the campaign until 4 p.m. Friday to take down the ads. As of 4 p.m. Friday, the AI video was no longer on the Scott Colom For Senate Facebook page. The general election is set for November 3.

Tech stocks fall as AI spending worries shake investors

U.S. stock futures were mixed on Friday after tech stocks dropped sharply on Thursday. Investors grew worried about the cost of funding AI buildouts. Meta's stock fell 7% after it announced a new class of shares to raise money for AI plans. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said there is a scarcity of capital for AI projects. Western Digital shares fell over 6% despite strong earnings driven by AI demand for storage chips. The company reported revenue of $4.38 billion and profit of $1.78 billion, beating expectations.

Pre-market futures fall as AI investment fears shake markets

Pre-market futures dropped on October 23, 2026 after concerns about AI infrastructure spending spooked investors. The Nasdaq fell nearly 700 points while the Dow dropped 377 points. Meta Platforms raised questions about AI investment viability earlier in the week. Oil prices rose above $100 per barrel as tensions with Iran escalated. American Express and SLB Corp reported Q3 earnings that beat expectations.

TradingView adds AI to Crypto Coins Screener tool

TradingView updated its Crypto Coins Screener with new AI capabilities. The tool now provides real-time data on the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market cap. It includes detailed charts, price alerts, and a risk assessment tool. Users can customize their dashboard and integrate with popular trading platforms. The update aims to help investors make more informed decisions about cryptocurrency investments.

New framework proposes three pillars for safe AI agents

A new paper introduces a Three-Pillar model for developing safe and trustworthy AI agents. The framework focuses on transparency, accountability, and trustworthiness in autonomous decision-making systems. It addresses challenges in safety, alignment, and human oversight. The model supports agent lifecycle monitoring, decision traceability, and escalation management. It provides a practical foundation for enterprise AI agent deployment while keeping systems aligned with human intent.

LTM launches BlueVerse Industrial AI Lab in Chennai

LTM launched the BlueVerse Industrial AI Lab in Chennai to help enterprises scale AI across physical operations. The lab serves as a co-innovation hub where clients and partners can develop and test AI solutions. It features multi-spectral computer vision, digital twins, robotics zones, and embedded device engineering capabilities. The lab combines LTM's industrial AI solutions, patents, and manufacturing-focused small language models. Gururaj Deshpande, Chief Delivery Officer at LTM, said the lab helps businesses improve operational availability, worker safety, and regulatory compliance.

DeepSeek and MiniMax complete export registration under new China rules

Chinese AI developers DeepSeek and MiniMax completed export registration procedures days after new China export rules took effect. The registration was required by the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology. The new rules raised concerns about whether China was restricting AI companies from expanding overseas. Both companies proceeded with open-source releases and overseas licensing activities after completing registration. The rules came as China's open-weight AI models gained international adoption.

Microsoft Focuses on AI Growth and Spending in Upcoming Earnings

Microsoft stock has dropped before its fiscal first-quarter report next Wednesday. Investors worry about heavy AI investments and the impact on companies tied to the AI trend. Wall Street will watch Azure cloud computing, Copilot services, and capital spending for AI data centers. Analysts are closely watching how Microsoft's AI strategy is performing.

Anthropic Launches European AI Consultancy in the UK

Anthropic, an AI research company backed by Elon Musk, has made a deal to launch a European consultancy based in the UK. The company will advise businesses on how to use AI responsibly and transparently. Services include AI strategy development, data analysis, and implementation planning. The launch is expected to create new jobs in the UK and expand Anthropic's presence in Europe.

Deutsche Bank Highlights AI Potential in Snowflake, CrowdStrike, and Palo Alto Networks

Deutsche Bank identified Snowflake as a key beneficiary of growing AI use because of its ability to handle large data volumes. CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks may also benefit as businesses manage more digital identities and cyberattack risks. The bank noted that software vendors are adjusting products for AI-driven workflows. However, the bank warned that some opportunity is already priced into valuations.

Infosys Lowers Revenue Forecast as AI Services Surpass 10% of Sales

Infosys cut its fiscal 2027 revenue growth guidance to 1% to 2% due to softer volumes and pricing pressure. September-quarter revenue was $5.145 billion, and net profit rose 6.2% to 7,823 crore rupees. AI services revenue grew 29% sequentially to 10.5% of total sales, and large deal bookings reached $5.2 billion including one deal above $2 billion. The company's ADRs fell 8.5% premarket on the guidance cut.

Sources

• Attorney General asks Colom to remove AI video, says it appears to violate state law
• Mississippi AG asks Colom to remove AI-generated video
• Opposition deepfake video sparks outrage in Spain ahead of election
• Colom responds to AG’s request to remove AI-generated ads
• AI-fueled tech selloff in focus; Western Digital reports
• Pre-Markets Remain Spooked by AI Investment Capacity
• Crypto Coins Screener: now with AI
• A Three-Pillar Governance Framework for Safe and Trustworthy AI Agents
• LTM Launches BlueVerse™ Industrial AI Lab in Chennai Helping Enterprises Scale AI Across Physical Operations and Intelligent Products
• DeepSeek, MiniMax secure open-source licences days after new China export rules
• Microsoft Earnings Report To Focus On AI Momentum, Capex
• Anthropic strikes deal to launch European consultancy
• Top Bank Sees Big AI Opportunity for These 3 Tech Stocks
• Infosys Cuts FY27 Revenue Forecast to 1-2% as AI Services Climb Past 10% of Sales