GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - Someone used artificial intelligence to create a deepfake video of Grand Island Mayor Roger Steele falsely announcing a ban on Christmas lights and decorations.

In the fabricated video obtained by Local4 News, the AI-generated Steele claims the city council voted to ban Christmas lights and Christmas decorations visible through windows. The deepfake threatens residents who don’t comply with utility shutoffs.

“Those that do not follow these guidelines will have their electric utility suspended until Jan. 1,” the fake video states.

The video resembles Steele’s appearance but uses a voice that sounds much different from the mayor. Some residents were initially caught off guard by the deepfake before realizing it was fake.

The city responded to the false video o

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