Deepfakes Are Being Used to Puncture Politicians’ Bluster

A YouTuber with an unhealthy obsession with 1990s female songstresses is slowly eroding the credibility of Brazil’s government

In May, a video showing Brazil’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro dressed up as Chapulin Colorado — a famous character from a 1970’s Mexican TV show — went viral, reaching over 100,000 views on YouTube (and over 900,000 on Twitter), with a fake-Bolsonaro misquoting his own campaign slogan: “Brazil above everything, God above everyone”.

Bolsonaro — the country’s most powerful man — is dressed in a bright red lycra bodysuit with two tiny antenna swinging about above his head. He looks ridiculous as he tries to repeat his campaign slogan while, like a standard TV sitcom, you can hear laughter from a non-existent audience with jazzy music playing in the background to set the jovial mood.

“Thank you very much, above all the New Yorkers,” he stumbles to laughter, misspeaking once. He tries again: “Brazil above” — he stumbles again…