Hillingdon councillor alleges racist AI caricatures by local Conservatives

Councillor Sital Punja has alleged that AI-generated caricatures posted on social media by the Hillingdon Conservative Party contain racist and antisemitic tropes. Ms Punja, a Labour member of the Tory-controlled Hillingdon Council, stated that the manipulated images of her likeness were deeply offensive. One cartoon depicted Ms Punja, who is of Indian heritage, controlling white male counterparts as puppets. The Hillingdon Conservative Group has rejected these claims, asserting that the images were intended solely as political satire and denying any racist or antisemitic intent.

Allegations of harmful tropes

Ms Punja told BBC London that she did not accept the explanation of political satire. She highlighted that 'puppeteering tropes' have historically been used in antisemitic and racist propaganda. Ms Punja, who has received antisemitic awareness training as a Labour Party member, stated that such tropes are frequently included in that training. She also described another AI-generated cartoon, which showed her running past horse-drawn carts with slogans criticising Labour policies, as having exaggerated features that portrayed her as a menace. She added that the portrayal of her controlling white men while finances declined was also problematic.

The Hillingdon Conservative Group stated that the images were a reference to Ms Punja 'pulling the strings' of her colleagues when she previously served as deputy leader of Hillingdon Labour. They denied any antisemitic references or claims. The group also pointed to AI-manipulated images posted by local Labour branches, showing Conservative councillors in various contexts. Ms Punja clarified that these accounts were not associated with her or the official Hillingdon Labour group.

Academic perspective on AI and imagery

Dr Ben Gidley, an academic at Birkbeck University's Institute for the Study of Antisemitism, commented on the use of AI in image creation for politicians. While not commenting on the specific Hillingdon case, Dr Gidley noted that the 'puppet master' motif has significant historical connections to antisemitic propaganda. He warned that AI image tools could exacerbate the use of racist imagery due to their reliance on vast datasets that may contain historical prejudices. Dr Gidley also mentioned that similar imagery has been used in recent years by far-right social media accounts to target various minority groups, not just Jewish people. He added that social media accelerates the circulation of misinformation and stereotypes, amplifying hostile ideas.

Call for updated conduct rules

Ms Punja has reported the images posted by the Conservatives to Hillingdon Council's Standards Committee. She is advocating for updated local government rules to address social media and AI-generated images. She expressed concern that once images are processed by AI systems, they can permanently characterise individuals in a specific way. Ms Punja stated that the online abuse campaign had taken a severe toll on her health, leading her to contact the police and discuss safety with her children. She believes race and gender played a part in the attacks she faced, recalling childhood experiences of racism. Despite the impact, Ms Punja remains committed to her role in local government, stating that stopping would mean the perpetrators have succeeded. She believes that a diverse and inclusive society requires representation from all types of people.

Hillingdon Council confirmed it has a recognised complaints process and would not comment on individual allegations.