Political violence and AI disinformation target female legislators in Mexico and Colombia

In Mexico, the National Electoral Institute (INE) has ordered the removal of five social media posts following a determination by its Complaints and Denunciations Commission. The measure is a precautionary action regarding potential political violence against women based on gender. The commission noted that these specific posts could constitute psychological, symbolic, and digital violence. This decision is a provisional measure and does not constitute a final sentence regarding the responsibility of those involved.

In Colombia, the Pacto Histórico political coalition has denounced a disinformation campaign targeting female lawmakers Isabel Zuleta and María Fernanda Carrascal. The coalition reported the use of AI-generated deepfake videos to impersonate Senator Zuleta and attribute false statements to her. An investigation by Cuestión Pública identified a pattern of digital saturation, involving approximately 5,000 posts from over 3,600 accounts within a five-and-a-half-hour period, aimed at damaging the reputations of the legislators.