Recently, Jeff Hancock, a professor of communication at Stanford University, has attracted widespread attention after being accused of using artificial intelligence to fabricate testimony in a case involving political deepfake videos. The case was brought by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, concerning a recent law passed in Minnesota that bans political deepfake videos, which is seen as a potential threat to free speech.
Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, image authorized by service provider Midjourney
Professor Hancock submitted an expert statement in support of the law advocated by the Attorney General. However, the plaintiff's legal team discovered that a study cited by Hancock, titled "The Impact of Deepfake Videos on Political Attitudes and Behavior," does not exist. They pointed out in a 36-page memorandum that while the journal exists, such a study has never been published.
In the memorandum, the lawyers detailed their attempts to locate the study, emphasizing that they could find no related information on the internet or across multiple academic search engines. They stated, "The title cannot be found anywhere, not even in academic search engines like Google Scholar." The lawyers questioned Hancock's testimony, suggesting that it may be fabricated content generated by artificial intelligence, which severely undermines the credibility of the statement.
Additionally, the lawyers noted that Hancock's statement lacked necessary research methodology and analytical logic, which further called into question the overall credibility of the statement. They argued that if parts of the statement were fabricated, then the entire testimony should be deemed unreliable, urging the court to exclude consideration of this testimony.
This incident has sparked widespread discussion about academic integrity and the application of artificial intelligence in the legal field. The case is still under further review, and the court's final ruling has yet to be determined.
Key Points:
🔍 Professor Hancock is accused of citing a non-existent study in his testimony, which may have been generated by AI.
⚖️ Testimony submitted by Minnesota Attorney General Ellison is being questioned, affecting support for the political deepfake video bill.
📜 Plaintiff's lawyers are calling for the court to exclude Hancock's testimony, claiming its overall credibility is severely impacted.