Ethics complaint filed over ads falsely portraying Raman promoting homeless camps

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Set us as preferred Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman’s campaign team has filed a complaint with the city Ethics Commission against an outside group backing Mayor Karen Bass, claiming its social media campaign promotes an interactive AI phone line with a voice falsely identified as that of Nithya Raman.The ads, paid for by Thrive LA, are styled as real estate advertisements for a fictitious “Nithya Raman Realty.” Some show an image of Raman holding a tent, with the slogan “Keeping Tents on Our Streets.” The ads are intended to promote the idea that Raman isn’t tough on homeless encampments, which Raman says misrepresents her position.

People who call the number get a Raman sound-alike saying “We’re bringing tent communities to your block.Would you prefer them outside your children’s school, the library, or right outside your home?” Raman’s campaign claims that Thrive LA broke campaign rules by failing to report the AI phone system on required campaign spending forms, and imitating Raman’s voice without stating who paid for it.

Not disclosing that it’s an ad could lead voters to believe the AI voice is actually Raman, according to the complaint.Ana Teresa Dahan, the executive director of Thrive LA, called the complaint “false and absurd” and added that the organization’s ad spending has been properly disclosed.She said the satire ads are protected political speech and abide by campaign finance rules.

The advocacy group will continue running ads until Election Day, she said.“Nithya Raman wants to run the second-largest city in America, and she can’t handle a parody phone number.Imagine how she’d handle a budget crisis, or a wildfire,” Dahan said.

“The only real complaint here is the one Angelenos have about her record.”Thrive LA defines itself as a centrist political advoca...