Overview
- Meta deleted the Facebook account behind the clips and Google’s YouTube terminated the impersonating channel for policy violations.
- The fabricated videos mimicked RTÉ News formats to claim Catherine Connolly withdrew and that the election was cancelled, with additional false reports on spoiled ballots and attacks using AI‑generated presenters.
- Ireland’s electoral commission escalated the case through pre‑agreed channels and urged voters to verify online claims before sharing.
- Connolly denounced the footage, affirmed she remains on the ballot, and her campaign filed complaints seeking removal, clear labeling, and preservation of metadata to identify originators.
- Coimisiún na Meán contacted Meta about its DSA duties and the European Commission said it is monitoring the incident with Irish authorities, as experts warned the convincing edits could mislead voters.