Ferraris Campaign Cited for Undisclosed AI Imagery

A complaint alleges the Santa Clara mayoral candidate failed to disclose AI-generated content on his website.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a city hall dome silhouette reflected in a puddle, symbolizing institutional oversight. — A formal complaint was filed against Santa Clara mayoral candidate Gary Ferraris alleging the campaign failed to disclose AI-generated images on its website. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should political campaigns be legally required to disclose the use of AI-generated imagery in advertisements?

Political consultant Diana Torres filed a formal complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission against Santa Clara mayoral candidate Gary Ferraris. The filing claims the campaign violated state transparency laws by using AI-generated imagery without required disclosure.

Why it matters

The case tests California's mandate requiring candidates to label AI-generated campaign materials to prevent voter deception. With the election approaching, the incident highlights the ongoing challenges of regulating synthetic media in local politics.

The contested content included AI-generated depictions of volunteers, a construction worker, and a building labeled City of Santa Clara. The Ferraris campaign removed these images from its website on September 25 after receiving notice of the complaint.

The players

Gary Ferraris

He is a candidate currently running in the Santa Clara mayoral election.

Diana Torres

She is a political consultant who filed a complaint regarding the campaign's use of AI images.

California Fair Political Practices Commission

This state agency is responsible for the administration and enforcement of political campaign finance and disclosure laws.

The details

The complaint alleges that Gary Ferraris failed to comply with state law, which took effect in January 2025, regarding the labeling of AI-generated campaign content. While the campaign characterized the inclusion of the synthetic images as an honest mistake, they were removed from the site following the notification.

January 2025: California law regarding AI campaign disclosure took effect.
September 24, 2026: Diana Torres filed the complaint with the FPPC.
September 25, 2026: The Ferraris campaign removed the images from its website.
November 3, 2026: The Santa Clara mayoral election is scheduled to occur.

The Tech Race

This dispute marks an enforcement test of California's 2025 AI-generated campaign content disclosure law. It highlights the growing tension between rapid advancements in generative imagery and the state's effort to maintain electoral transparency.

Local voters can expect increased scrutiny of campaign materials as agencies work to enforce transparency laws. Residents should verify the authenticity of candidate advertisements during this election cycle to ensure they are viewing genuine information.

The takeaway

Voters should be aware that political candidates are now legally required to disclose the use of synthetic images in their outreach materials. This case serves as a reminder to evaluate campaign digital media critically as election technology continues to evolve.