Fake audio clips of Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, were created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and simulated the politician’s voice, it is understood
Fake audio clips of Sadiq Khan blasting Remembrance Day commemorations do not “constitute a criminal offence,” Metropolitan Police said tonight.
Simulated audio, thought to have been created using artificial intelligence, has the Mayor of London saying: “I don’t give a flying sh** about the Remembrance weekend” in one clip.
Another, also posted on social media site TikTok, has the simulated Mr Khan stating his authority over the Met Police before suggesting that the Armistice Day commemorations be postponed.
Although Metropolitan Police confirmed the force had looked into the clips, no further action will be taken as the clips do not “constitute a criminal offence”.
In the second clip, the fake audio adds: “I know we have Armistice Day on Saturday but why should Londoners cancel the Palestinian march on Saturday? Why don’t they have Remembrance weekend next weekend? What’s happening in Gaza is much bigger than this weekend and it’s current.”
Mr Khan, who has been mayor of the capital since 2016, claimed the far-right was responsible for the clips and had the intention to “divide our diverse communities”. He posted on X amid rising tensions at one of the largest protests in political history in Central London, where more than 100 people were arrested following “violent, wholly unacceptable” clashes.
Posting on X, which used to be known as Twitter, Mr Khan, a former MP for Tooting in the capital, said: “While I hosted an interfaith Remembrance event with our armed forces at City Hall, the far-right were sharing deepfake audio about me.
“They may have new means, but their ends are the same – to divide our diverse communities. We must stand together – it’s what London does best.”
But, in relation to the audio clips, a Met Police spokesman said: “We can confirm that we were made aware of a video featuring artificial audio of the Mayor. Specialist officers have reviewed this video and assessed that it does not constitute a criminal offence.
“Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing continue to review online content and material that is referred to us by members of the public. We will investigate and take enforcement actions where criminal offences are identified.”
