AI video from Friedrich Merz: SPD politician apologizes

The Schleswig-Holstein SPD member of the Bundestag Bengt Bergt apologized in writing to Friedrich Merz because of a manipulated video shared on Instagram and deleted the video. “I can understand that satire – shared by a politician – can be viewed as a political statement,” said Bergt’s letter, which was available to the German Press Agency. The Schleswig-Holstein Newspaper Association and “Spiegel” had previously reported.

“I also admit that the content of the video was very exaggerated, sometimes harsh, sometimes perhaps too harshly worded – and that the content is perceived as insulting,” Bergt continued. He underestimated the impact of the video: “I would like to expressly apologize to you for that.” Given this, he “wouldn’t share” the video again.

For the video, the voice of CDU federal chairman Merz was artificially imitated and false statements such as “The CDU/CSU despise you all” and “We despise democracy” were put into his mouth.

Bengt Bergt initially defended the video published on Monday as exaggerated satire. The video, according to Bergt, was clearly marked (“Attention: artificial incompetence”) as an AI video. “It is therefore clear to everyone: This is a parody of Merz’s position on hasty new elections, although – I admit that – an exaggerated satire.” It’s not fake news, i.e. deliberate misinformation.

The video was also discussed on Wednesday in the debate on the government declaration by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in the Bundestag. Merz accused the SPD of wanting to conduct a dirty federal election campaign against him. SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich later said: If a member of his group actually used questionable AI technology, “then I will ensure that this or that member apologizes to you, Mr. Merz.”