Manipulating Perception: The Role of AI in Hungary's Election Campaign

Sun Apr 05 2026 19:16:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

As Prime Minister Viktor Orbán seeks re-election amid a heated political atmosphere, the use of AI-generated videos is intensifying, altering public perception ahead of Hungary's crucial elections.

Ahead of the pivotal elections in Hungary, the ruling Fidesz party is leveraging AI-generated videos to manipulate public sentiments and discredit opposition candidates. One controversial video depicts a girl waiting for her father who is depicted as being executed, aimed to deter support for opposition leader Péter Magyar. Despite the claims of the ruling party, Magyar and independent observers reject the narratives, asserting that the AI-generated content misrepresents the political landscape. This trend highlights the increasing prevalence of misinformation in electoral politics, raising concerns about its impact on voter behavior.

Warning: This piece refers to scenes of violence from the start.

When a video went viral appearing to show a Hungarian soldier's execution, its disturbing nature came as a shock to anyone who saw it. Ahead of pivotal Hungarian elections on Sunday 12 April, the AI-generated, fake clip was posted on the social media accounts of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party in February. It tells the story of a young girl at a window yearning for her father's return home from war, and then the video cuts to him - blindfolded, bound by the hands, and then shot by his captors. The video targeted Orbán's election rival, Péter Magyar, who could unseat him after 16 years in office.

The Fidesz campaign has made unsubstantiated claims about the war in Ukraine and Magyar's intentions, at times using AI-generated videos like this, even though it makes clear the video is fake. 'The video is an AI video, but the war is really horrible,' it says. 'Péter Magyar doesn't want you to see this video. He doesn't want you to see what an irreversible tragedy it is to join a war.'

Such narratives have been widely rejected by Magyar and by his party, Tisza. In its manifesto, it pledges it will not send troops to Ukraine and does not plan to revive conscription. We asked ruling party Fidesz whether it had made the AI execution video and why it had posted it on to its social media channels, but the party has not responded to our questions.

Following the posting of the AI video, Támas Menczer, communications director of the Fidesz-KNDP alliance, cited fears that 'the greatest possible danger is that Hungarian people could die' if Tisza wins, emphasizing the influence of disinformation in shaping electoral narratives. While Magyar has condemned the video as 'heartless manipulation', there remains skepticism about how these disinformation tactics impact voter sentiment.

Polling indicates Magyar is leading in public support, particularly among younger voters. Yet the Fidesz party persists in its use of AI and misleading narratives as tools to sway public opinion. The growing reliance on such tactics raises questions about the integrity of Hungary's political discourse and the future of its democracy.