Tory MP reports deepfake defection video to police

George Freeman denounced the video as fake, saying he has no intention of leaving the Conservative party

A Tory MP says he has reported a deepfake video depicting him announcing he had joined Reform UK to the police.

George Freeman said he remained "the Conservative MP for Mid Norfolk and have no intention of joining Reform or any other party", denouncing the video circulating on social media as "an AI-generated deepfake".

Freeman said he reported the video to the authorities. Norfolk Police and Facebook have been approached for comment.

"This sort of political disinformation has the potential to seriously distort, disrupt and corrupt our democracy," he added.

Freeman is calling for robust action to tackle the growing issue of "fake news", including on social media platforms

In the widely-circulated video, the MP appeared to say "the time for half measures is over" and that the "Conservative party had lost its way" after announcing he had joined Reform, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In response, Freeman said: "The video is a fabrication, created without my knowledge or consent, and uses my image and voice without permission."

"Regardless of my position as an MP, that should be an offence."

Freeman has been a Conservative MP since 2010 and served in various ministerial capacities in the previous government.

Most recently, he was Minister of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

He said: "I do not know whether this incident was a politically motivated attack by political opponents or just a dangerous prank, but it is clear that in recent months there has been a huge increase in political disinformation, disruption and extremism – on both the left and the right, by religious extremists, by dangerous influencers like Andrew Tate, and anti-democratic disrupters.

"I have reported this matter to the relevant authorities, and I urge anyone who sees the video to report it immediately rather than share it further."