Lawmaker Suing Whirlpool After Ad Used Deepfake

A North Carolina state senator is taking legal action against Whirlpool and a major global marketing firm after discovering that her image and voice were altered with AI and used in an award-winning Brazilian ad campaign—without her permission. According to The Washington Post, DeAndrea Salvador learned of the manipulated video only after receiving a string of puzzling emails with subject lines like “Is this you?” and “AI manipulation.”

A journalist’s inquiry pushed her to search online, where she found that her 2018 TED Talk had been digitally modified to make it appear as if she were discussing energy burdens in São Paulo, Brazil, instead of North Carolina. The altered video, which promoted energy-efficient appliances, had even won two top honors at the Cannes Lions International Festival—often compared to the Oscars of the advertising world—before concerns about its authenticity surfaced, as first reported by Courthouse News in August.

Salvador’s lawsuit argues that the unauthorized use of her likeness risks damaging her credibility as a lawmaker and as an advocate for energy affordability. Whirlpool and Omnicom—the parent company of the Brazilian agency responsible for the campaign—have asked the court to dismiss the case, asserting that Salvador suffered no reputational harm and that the ad was never broadcast in Brazil.

DM9, the agency behind the video, has apologized, returned its Cannes awards, and acknowledged the use of AI. The Cannes Lions organizers have since introduced new rules to safeguard “creative integrity” in future submissions. Salvador says the episode has made her more cautious about participating in recorded public events. “I now have moments of hesitation,” she said.

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