Catherine Connolly, an independent candidate in Ireland’s presidential election, has formally lodged a complaint with the Electoral Commission regarding a malicious deepfake video circulating online. The AI-generated video, which surfaced on Tuesday night, falsely depicted Connolly announcing her withdrawal from the upcoming election scheduled for Friday. Connolly, a member of the Irish parliament (TD) for Galway West since 2016, condemned the video as a ‘disgraceful attempt to mislead voters and undermine democracy.’ She reaffirmed her candidacy, stating, ‘I am absolutely still in the race to become Ireland’s 10th president.’ Connolly urged the public not to share the video but to report it, emphasizing that the best response to such disinformation is to vote. Her campaign team has flagged the video to social media platforms, demanding its immediate removal and clear labeling as fake. Connolly, a former deputy speaker in the Dáil and ex-member of the Irish Labour Party, has garnered support from several left-leaning parties and independent figures in her presidential bid. This incident highlights the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes in electoral processes and the need for robust measures to combat digital misinformation.