Police investigate AI deepfake of Sadiq Khan stoking Armistice Day tensions

Fake, AI-generated audio of Mayor of London Sadiq Khan are under police investigation after inflaming Remembrance Day tensions online.

In one clip circulated on social media, a fake voice resembling Mr Khan says: “I don’t give a flying s*** about the Remembrance weekend.”

Another fake recording, shared by far-right activists, says: “Why don’t they have Remembrance Weekend next weekend? Why should Londoners cancel the Palestinian march on Saturday?… What’s happening in Gaza is much bigger than this weekend and it’s current.”

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters were due to march through London on Saturday, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the deadly Israel-Gaza conflict.

The Met police has said it was investigating the fake audio recordings.

“We can confirm that we have been made aware of a video featuring artificial audio of the mayor, and that this is with specialist officers for assessment,” they said in a statement.

The Minister of State for Security, Tom Tugendhat said: “There’s a fake audio recording of the Mayor of London being circulated. Please don’t repost or amplify it.

“The Met is aware, and are actively investigating.”

The London Mayor also addressed the fake audio on X, blaming the “far-right”.

“They may have new means,” he added, “but their ends are the same – to divide our diverse communities.

“We must stand together – it’s what London does best.”

Various social media users commented on the fake posts, asking if the audio was real – indicating how realistic the AI-generated clips sounded.

The deepfake clips follow a similar smear imitating Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, which circulated in the run-up to the party’s annual conference in Liverpool.

The recordings add to growing fears of the future impacts of AI on politics and democracy.