Quebec voters received false election info from AI chatbots

A parliamentary committee in Canada heard testimony regarding the spread of false election information via AI chatbots during a recent Quebec election. Researchers from McGill University reported that approximately 40 per cent of Quebec voters sought election information from chatbots.

Because most local news outlets have blocked AI chatbots from accessing their content, the bots often relied on alternative sources. Taylor Owen, an associate professor at the Max Bell School of Public Policy, noted that 39 per cent of voting advice provided by ChatGPT during the final three weeks of the campaign originated from an error-filled hobby website that was itself built by AI.

Researchers emphasized that this misinformation appeared to be an accidental consequence of newsrooms de-indexing their content rather than a nefarious design, though officials expressed concern regarding the potential for intentional misuse in future elections.