European MPs targeted by deepfake video calls imitating Russian opposition

Politicians from the UK, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania tricked by fake meetings with opposition figures

A series of senior European MPs have been approached in recent days by individuals who appear to be using deepfake filters to imitate Russian opposition figures during video calls.

Those tricked include Rihards Kols, who chairs the foreign affairs committee of Latvia's parliament, as well as MPs from Estonia and Lithuania. Tom Tugendhat, the chair of the UK foreign affairs select committee, has also said he was targeted.