AI in political ads: Michigan law requires clear disclosure
AI in political ads: Michigan law requires clear disclosure
Publish Date: 2026-06-13 06:03:00
Source Domain: www.freep.com
June 13, 2026, 6:03 a.m. ET
In election years, Michiganders are no strangers to being flooded with campaign ads. Billboards, TV and radio spots, social media posts and more promoting candidates and movements fill whatever medium campaign operatives think will reach the most prospective voters.
And in a growing number of races across the country, campaigns are turning to generative artificial intelligence to bolster, or even just entirely create, their ads. Using AI can be quicker and cheaper than producing a traditional ad and does allow for some creative liberties — but in Michigan, state law mandates campaigns disclose when they use AI in political materials.
Take a few recent social media posts from state Sen. Aric Nesbitt, a Porter Township Republican among those running in the Tuesday, Aug. 5, statewide primary election with hopes to become Michigan’s governor: On June 9, he posted an AI-generated campaign video on social media featuring the likeness of several politicians, including himself, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers and others. Another video posted on Nesbitt’s Facebook page includes likenesses of Whitmer, Benson and Fay Beydoun, a former nonprofit leader who was charged with a series of crimes in May related to a $20 million state grant.
Also included in both videos is a likeness of Attorney General Dana Nessel. At the tail end of each spot, the Nessel-likeness informs viewers that the video was created entirely by artificial intelligence.
That’s because Michigan is among the states that has taken steps to put guardrails around the use of AI in political campaign materials. In 2023, Whitmer signed legislation that requires politicians and their campaigns to disclose when AI is used in political advertisements.
Specifically, political ads are required to clearly disclose if they…
