Political tensions rise in Spain amid disinformation concerns

Political campaigning in Spain has entered a pre-campaign phase characterized by intense mutual delegitimization between the PP and PSOE. The PP is reportedly utilizing judicial processes involving the inner circle of President Pedro Sánchez, including investigations into his wife and brother, as electoral tools. In response, the PSOE has countered by highlighting the PP’s history of corruption, citing unresolved cases such as Operation Kitchen and the Gürtel case.

Parallel to these political frictions, concerns are growing regarding the impact of artificial intelligence and social media on democratic processes. The use of AI to create realistic but fake content, combined with the deployment of automated bots to amplify specific discourses, poses a significant threat to public debate. Furthermore, a 2024 UNESCO study has highlighted that AI models can reproduce societal biases, including gender, racial, and LGTBI+ prejudices, potentially undermining progress through the reinforcement of stereotypes.