CATHERINE CONNOLLY HAS condemned as “entirely false and malicious” a deepfake video circulating online that falsely claimed she had withdrawn from the presidential election.

The video, which appeared last night on social media and mimicked an RTÉ Nine O’Clock News broadcast, purported to show presenter Sharon Ní Bheoláin announcing Connolly’s withdrawal, followed by AI-generated footage of Connolly appearing to confirm it herself.

The fake segment later cut to fabricated clips of RTÉ political correspondent Paul Cunningham claiming the election had been cancelled and that Heather Humphreys would become president by default.

The video, created using artificial intelligence tools, was viewed more than 160,000 times on Facebook before being taken down. It has also been removed from YouTube, who also removed the channel it was uploaded to.

“The video is a fabrication. It is a disgraceful attempt to mislead voters and undermine our democracy,” Connolly said in a statement.

“I am absolutely still a candidate for President of Ireland,” she added.

“I will not be distracted and will continue my campaign in every county.”

Her campaign has reported the footage to social media platforms and filed a formal complaint with the Electoral Commission, requesting its removal and clear labelling as fake.

Connolly urged the public not to share the video and to report it instead: “Disinformation has no place in Irish public life. The surest reply to lies is to vote.”

Her team has also called on social media companies to take stronger action against AI-generated election content, including mandatory labelling and cooperation with authorities to identify those responsible.

The deepfake is part of a wider wave of AI-generated political disinformation circulating during this election campaign.

Other recent videos from fake “RTÉ News” accounts have shown fabricated newscasts encouraging voters to spoil their ballots or depicting Irish politicians in manipulated or defamatory scenarios.

Experts have warned that the rise of realistic AI-generated imagery risks confusing the public and undermining trust in verified information ahead of polling day.

In a statement this evening confirming that the video had been taken down, a spokesperson for YouTube said: “Our teams are working around the clock to safeguard this election,  and we’re ready to take action on content that violates our policies.”