Social media users in Cameroon are alleging that pro-government accounts are pushing AI-generated campaign videos ahead of the October 12, 2025 presidential election. The posts—circulating on Facebook, X, and WhatsApp—claim slick, narrator-driven clips touting government achievements were synthesized with generative tools, blurring the line between political advertising and synthetic media. While independent verification of each viral clip is still limited, the accusations are plausible in context: AI use around Cameroon’s election has been growing, and previous incidents have already primed the public to suspect manipulation.
This is not the first time AI has intersected with Cameroonian politics. In April 2025, authorities publicly warned against the misuse of social media and AI as the election season approached—a sign that the state anticipated synthetic content battles months in advance. Civil society groups likewise flagged the risk: regional digital-rights organizations and election observers have been training stakeholders to recognize and respond to disinformation, including AI-generated propaganda.
Past episodes illustrate how quickly manipulated media can distort public debate. In 2024, for example, an AI video falsely claiming President Paul Biya’s death spread widely before officials debunked it. In August 2025, a Cameroonian bishop was targeted by a viral video that church authorities said was AI-generated. And fact-checkers recently exposed a deepfake purporting to show the prime minister endorsing a bogus investment scheme—another reminder that convincing synthetic clips are increasingly easy to produce and monetize.
What’s different now is the campaign context. President Paul Biya, 92, is seeking an eighth term amid intense public scrutiny and online activism, including viral dissent from his daughter that briefly dominated social feeds. Against this backdrop, even legitimate, professionally produced campaign videos are quickly questioned as “AI,” especially when voiceovers sound unfamiliar or visuals look hyper-polished. That dynamic makes attribution tricky—and weaponizes ambiguity itself.
Globally, AI video has already been used to shape political narratives and inflame tensions. Analysts tracking African information spaces warn that generative tools can flood platforms with low-cost propaganda, overwhelm fact-checkers, and exploit moderation gaps—particularly in environments where trust in institutions and media is fragile. Cameroon fits that risk profile: a high-stakes vote, polarized discourse, and a maturing but uneven fact-checking ecosystem.
How to assess the latest clips
- Source & provenance: Check who posted first, when, and whether multiple identical uploads appear simultaneously—classic signals of coordinated amplification. Cross-reference with official campaign pages or press releases.
- Forensic tells: Listen for inconsistent accents, flat intonation, or mismatched mouth movements; look for artifacts and looping backgrounds. (Note: advanced models can mask these signs.)
- Third-party verification: Rely on recognized fact-checkers and digital-rights groups operating in or tracking Cameroon; they’ve previously flagged and debunked local deepfakes.
- Platform labels: Watch for platform “manipulated media” tags—but don’t assume absence equals authenticity; platform enforcement is uneven.
Why it matters
If campaign actors—state or non-state—normalize AI propaganda, voters face information asymmetry and erosion of consent. Even rumors that something “looks AI” can undermine real evidence, feeding cynicism and suppressing turnout. With days to the vote, transparency from campaigns and platforms—clear disclosures, watermarking where applicable, and rapid corrections—will be crucial.
Bottom line: The allegations that AI-made campaign videos are circulating in Cameroon remain under verification, but they align with a documented pattern of synthetic media shaping political conversation in the country. Citizens should approach viral political content with healthy skepticism, seek reputable context, and support outlets that publish methodology-based fact-checks. In a tight information environment, discernment is civic duty.
