Nithya Raman’s campaign on Oct. 26 filed complaints with the Los Angeles Ethics Commission and the California Fair Political Practices Commission alleging a PAC used an AI-cloned voice in attack ads that steer callers to an interactive phone line.
The complaints name Thrive LA as the group behind social media ads and signs that promote a phone number tied to an AI bot that speaks in a Raman sound‑alike voice, the Los Angeles Times reported. The ads were styled as a fake “Nithya Raman Realty” campaign and included the slogan “Keeping Tents on Our Streets,” the filing says.
KTLA published the complaints and a copy of the filing, saying Raman’s office alleges the AI line “speaks as Raman” and generates new statements in response to callers, without disclosing who paid for the call or that the voice is artificial. The campaign points to California law that bars distributing digitally fabricated audio of a candidate within 30 days of an election.
Thrive LA told reporters it calls the ads satire and said its ad spending has been disclosed, according to the Times and KTLA. A Thrive LA executive called the complaints “false and absurd” and said the group will continue running the ads until Election Day.
Nithya Raman’s campaign says the phone number on the ads connects to an interactive line that asks callers where a fictitious “tent community” should be placed, and that the AI does not initially identify itself as artificial. Raman argues the tactic could mislead voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Legal experts and campaign lawyers told the outlets that state and local rules require clear disclosure when campaign media uses AI-generated audio, and that independent expenditure groups must follow disclosure rules. The city Ethics Commission and the FPPC do not comment on complaints or investigations, the reports say.
Homelessness policy has been a central issue in the race between incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman; the Times noted the ads aim to portray Raman as soft on encampments even as she highlights reductions in unsheltered homelessness in her council district this year.
For background on debate and poll dynamics in the race, see reporting on Raman’s standing in recent polls and her exchanges with Bass.
Nithya Raman leads in polls and Raman leads Mayor Karen Bass 39% to 28% give recent context on the mayoral contest.
Sources
- Los Angeles Times — detailed the complaints, described the ads and quoted Raman campaign allegations that callers hear an AI-cloned voice and that ads lacked disclosure.
- KTLA — published the campaign’s filing and reported legal citations cited by Raman’s office and Thrive LA’s response.
