LA Mayoral Candidate Nithya Raman Files Ethics Complaint Over Fake Ads

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has filed an ethics complaint against a political group, Thrive LA, for allegedly violating disclosure requirements with satirical advertisements that criticize her record on homelessness. The advertisements, which include posters and social media content, depict a fictional real estate business called 'Nithya Raman Realty' and suggest she would encourage homeless encampments in residential areas.

Raman's campaign specifically objects to the group's use of artificial intelligence to create a phone line where an AI-generated voice, designed to sound like Raman, discusses the placement of homeless encampments. The campaign argues this technology could mislead voters, particularly if they are not immediately aware they are interacting with AI. The AI bot, when asked to identify itself as Raman, reportedly responded, 'I'm a fictional AI. I'm as imaginary as my campaign promises.'

The advertisements also feature imagery of tents, needles, and crime, accompanied by messages like 'Designated Poop Zone' to mock Raman's approach to homelessness. A recreational vehicle bearing similar advertisements has also been driven through Los Angeles.

Thrive LA's executive director, Ana Teresa Dahan, defended the campaign as political satire protected by the First Amendment. She stated that the exaggerated nature of the ads makes their satirical intent clear and rejected the notion that they were designed to deceive voters. 'When your record is this bad, the satire writes itself,' Dahan said in a statement. 'The only real complaint here is the one Angelenos have about her record.'

Raman's campaign has asked city officials to intervene before the mayoral election on November 3. The complaint alleges violations of five political advertising disclosure requirements.