AI Deepfake Video Misuses Zelenskyy Likeness
Social media users are circulating a compilation video that falsely overlays President Zelenskyy's face onto various dancers.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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A viral compilation video misrepresents Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by using deepfake technology to superimpose his face onto other individuals. The three-clip video relies on digital alterations to mimic the appearance of the leader.
Why it matters
The misuse of synthetic media highlights the ongoing challenge of verifying the authenticity of content shared on social media platforms. These manipulated videos can easily confuse viewers by blending genuine historical footage with fabricated segments.
Meta's AI detection software confirms that two of the three segments were manipulated by superimposing the face of Volodymyr Zelenskyy onto other individuals. Creators utilized blurring techniques across the clips to conceal digital glitches and increase realism.
The players
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
He serves as the President of Ukraine and is a former professional comic actor.
Pablo Acosta
He is an Argentinian dancer whose performance was repurposed in the deepfake compilation.
Meta
The technology corporation operates various social media platforms and employs AI detection tools for content moderation.
The details
The compilation features an altered version of a June 2023 video by Argentinian dancer Pablo Acosta and footage of an unidentified dancer from February 2022. A third segment consists of authentic 2014 footage of the President performing in a comedy routine.
Timeline
2014: Genuine footage of Zelenskyy as a comic actor is recorded.
2019: Volodymyr Zelenskyy is elected President of Ukraine.
February 2022: The original video of an unidentified dancer is shared.
June 2023: The original video of dancer Pablo Acosta is posted.
The Tech Race
This incident highlights the growing role of Meta's AI detection tool in verifying content amid the rise of sophisticated synthetic media. It underscores the ongoing arms race between automated generation tools and the security software designed to identify digital forgery.
Users should exercise caution when viewing viral social media clips, as sophisticated blurring can hide digital edits. Recognizing that authentic footage can be easily combined with deepfakes remains a key skill for verifying information in a digital environment.
The takeaway
The proliferation of deepfakes demonstrates that historical footage can be stripped of its original context to create misleading narratives. Viewers should verify the source of viral videos rather than relying on visual appearances alone.
Further reading
For broader context on how platforms are addressing synthetic content, visit the Artificial Intelligence section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Full Fact.
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