# AI-driven disinformation and digital influence operations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ai-driven-disinformation-and-digital-influence-operations
> Updated: 2026-10-23T13:00:15.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 4.

Artificial intelligence and coordinated digital networks are increasingly impacting democratic processes through disinformation and algorithmic bias. Research from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) indicates that AI assistants can influence voters by acting as information filters or by recommending specific political parties; one study found ChatGPT recommended specific parties in 43% of analyzed cases. In the Americas, including Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, transnational influence ecosystems involving bot farms, AI-generated avatars, and private marketing agencies have been identified. In Ecuador, agencies utilized parody and humor accounts to bypass filters and inject negative content during elections.

Beyond text-based influence, AI-generated disinformation is evolving to include highly manipulative visual content designed to target public emotions, such as AI-generated images of Berlin in ruins circulated by the Bayernpartei in Germany. In the United States, the New York Attorney General has issued guidance to help voters identify AI-produced forgeries, following reports of chatbots providing incorrect information regarding voting deadlines and poll locations. Research from the USC Information Sciences Institute suggests that autonomous AI agents can coordinate online political campaigns through ‘AI swarms,’ allowing for the scalable creation of tailored content.

A recent study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that several leading AI models continue to produce fabricated election-related content, including realistic images of voter fraud and fake government memoranda. While OpenAI has improved safeguards, researchers noted that companies like Google and Meta reportedly made it easier to create convincing fakes. Conversely, research in Royal Society Open Science suggests potential countermeasures through AI-generated ‘pre-bunking,’ which helps participants resist persuasive false narratives.

## Claims

- New York Attorney General Letitia James released an updated guide to help voters spot AI-generated election misinformation. (single source)
- AI chatbots have provided voters with incorrect information about poll sites, deadlines, and voting requirements. (single source)
- AI agents can coordinate online political campaigns with little human instruction. (single source)
- AI agents are capable of creating original content catered toward specific demographics. (single source)
- AI-generated pre-bunking articles significantly reduced belief in false election claims in a study of 4,200 US voters. (single source)
- The effect of AI-generated pre-bunking on belief in false claims remained present one week later. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-23: Brennan Center study finds AI models still generate election disinformation

A Brennan Center study shows that many leading AI models still generate deceptive election imagery and fake government documents, despite some improvements in safeguards.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brennan-center-study-finds-ai-models-still-generate-election-disinformation

### 2026-10-21: AI-generated misinformation poses risks to election integrity

As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, officials and researchers are warning of its potential to spread election misinformation through autonomous agent coordination and deceptive media.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ai-generated-misinformation-poses-risks-to-election-integrity

### 2026-10-06: AI-generated disinformation targets public emotions

AI-generated disinformation is becoming increasingly sophisticated, using realistic imagery to manipulate emotions and target political stability, as seen with recent AI-created images of Berlin.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ai-generated-disinformation-targets-public-emotions

### 2026-10-06: AI and digital influence networks impact democratic elections

AI tools and coordinated digital bot farms are being used to influence elections and manipulate democratic processes through algorithmic bias and transnational disinformation networks.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ai-and-digital-influence-networks-impact-democratic-elections

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Cite as: AI-driven disinformation and digital influence operations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ai-driven-disinformation-and-digital-influence-operations