Political instability and disinformation in Spain

Spain is experiencing heightened political volatility characterized by internal divisions and the spread of misinformation. Political fragmentation has emerged within left-wing groups, such as Podemos, which critics suggest may hinder efforts to counter the advancement of the People’s Party (PP) and Vox.

Misinformation remains a significant concern. Far-right actors circulated false racial profiles involving the wrongful identification of two Catalan youths, Ahmed and Youssef, in connection to a murder in Burgos. The media outlet El Imperial admitted to publishing these false identities and stated the responsible individual was expelled, though critics argue the error reflects a systemic failure to verify information driven by prejudice.

As the country approaches elections, political discourse has entered a phase of intense mutual delegitimization. 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 cases such as Operation Kitchen and the Gürtel case.

Concerns have also escalated regarding the use of artificial intelligence and automated bots to generate false imagery and amplify specific discourses. A 2024 UNESCO study highlighted that AI models can reproduce societal biases, including gender, racial, and LGTBI+ prejudices, potentially undermining public debate by reinforcing stereotypes.