--- title: "Guy Banned by Midjourney for Generating Images of Politicians Cheating" description: "Someone used Midjourney to AI-generate images of politicians cheating on their spouses — though claims that it was well-intentioned." date: "2023-07-02" modified: "2023-07-02" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/banned-midjourney-images-politicians-cheating" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" tags: - "ai" - "midjourney" - "misinformation" - "the digest" --- # Guy Banned by Midjourney for Generating Images of Politicians Cheating ![Someone used Midjourney to AI-generate images of politicians cheating on their spouses — though claims that it was well-intentioned.]() *\Image: Justin Brown\* ## Hammer = Down In a self-described attempt to call attention to AI-spun misinformation, someone used Midjourney to create fake images of politicians cheating on their spouses — only to find themselves banned from Midjourney entirely. "I got banned from Midjourney AI for generating realistic images of politicians cheating on their wives for a series called 'AI will revolutionize the blackmail industry,'" the images' creator, video editor Justin Brown, [wrote in a Twitter thread]() showcasing the images, adding that "when used with intelligence and intent, AI can be weapon." It was a well-enough intended stunt, we guess. But Midjourney clearly wasn't having it, and honestly, it's relieving to see the company being somewhat proactive about countering AI-generated misinformation in the [run-up to the 2024 election](). https://twitter.com/JuuustinBrown/status/1662225616635305985? ## Whack-a-Mole Among other figures, the politicians included in Brown's Midjourney-created series included several candidates in the 2024 presidential race: current president Joe Biden, former president Donald Trump, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, and Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Although the images vary a bit in terms of believability, some are pretty convincing. It's also important to note that the company only exiled Brown *after* he'd posted the images on Reddit — meaning that, to Brown's point, others could be generating similar images right under Midjourney's nose. "After gaining some traction on Reddit, the series was removed by moderators and the Midjourney ban followed almost immediately," Brown [told *PetaPixel*](). "I've come up against blocked prompts in the past — for naughty words or controversial figures — but never received a ban." "I wasn't given a direct reason for the ban by Midjourney," he added, "but the timing of the Reddit release and the ban correlate directly." To Midjourney's credit, [AI-generated imagery]() has already been used in several [political advertisements](), and deepfaked images and voices are a growing threat to the democratic process. Even if created with the best intentions, it'd probably be better if an easy way to churn out pictures like this just *didn't* *exist.* With that in mind, a no-exceptions rule on Midjourney's behalf feels warranted. Case in point: Brown admitting that he's already seen some of the images being misused. "I never presented the images \[in the photo series\] as real," Brown told *PetaPixel.* "But I do know that some of those images have been taken and shared out of context by others, so I wouldn't be surprised if there are some people who believed they were real." https://twitter.com/JuuustinBrown/status/1662225638596710400 **More on AI and 2024:** [*Ron DeSantis Ad Features AI-Generated Images of Donald Trump Kissing Fauci*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()