Stanford Expert Faces Scrutiny for Alleged AI Use in Legal Affidavit

Jeff Hancock, a misinformation researcher, is accused of citing fabricated studies in a court document supporting Minnesota's deepfake law.

Stanford professor Jeff Hancock, known for his work on misinformation, is accused of using AI-generated content in a court affidavit supporting a Minnesota law banning election-related deepfakes.
The affidavit reportedly references two studies that do not exist, raising concerns of AI 'hallucinations' likely produced by tools like ChatGPT.
The law, challenged by Republican state representative Mary Franson and a conservative YouTuber, is being contested on First Amendment grounds.
Opposing attorneys argue that the inclusion of fabricated citations undermines the credibility of the affidavit and call for its exclusion from the case.
This incident highlights broader issues with the misuse of AI in legal settings, as similar cases of fabricated content in court documents have surfaced in recent years.