AI-driven disinformation and electoral threats

The landscape of disinformation is evolving through the integration of artificial intelligence and hybrid warfare. In Europe, monitoring by the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) shows that geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Gaza drive over 50% of detected misinformation. This involves the use of AI-generated synthetic images and manipulated videos alongside traditional methods like decontextualizing authentic footage to provoke emotional responses and heighten political polarization.

These technological advancements pose specific threats to electoral integrity globally. In New Zealand, social media algorithms create divergent campaign experiences by dictating content visibility based on engagement likelihood. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, concerns are rising regarding the 2027 general elections, where experts warn that deepfakes—including cloned voices and fabricated videos—could be used to impersonate officials or candidates. Such tools may spread disinformation faster than official bodies can respond, potentially undermining public trust.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, fact-checking platforms are issuing guidance to help journalists identify AI-driven manipulation ahead of general elections. The threat to democratic stability has also been highlighted in Romania, where the Constitutional Court annulled presidential election proceedings following intelligence reports of coordinated TikTok campaigns, cyberattacks, and potential foreign interference. European Parliament member Tonino Picula has warned that disinformation has evolved into a major security threat aimed at destabilizing democratic institutions, noting that older demographics are particularly susceptible to sharing unverified information.