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Elections
Artificial Intelligence and Electoral Disinformation

What was the role of Generative AI in Latin American Elections
2.6 Minutes
Candidate talking on Artificial inteligence

Candidate talking on Artificial inteligence

© FNF Latam

Why is this relevant?

Because GAI technologies are rapidly transforming how political narratives are created and disseminated, posing new challenges to democracy, electoral integrity, and voter trust in Latin America.

Why should someone read it?

This paper provides critical insights into how Generative AI is used to manipulate elections, offering real-world examples, evidence-based analysis, and policy recommendations to mitigate risks. It's essential reading for policymakers, journalists, civil society organizations, and anyone interested in protecting democracy in the digital age.

Who is this relevant for?

  • Policymakers and Electoral Authorities – To understand the evolving threats posed by Generative AI and design timely regulations, oversight mechanisms, and safeguards to protect electoral integrity.

  • Journalists and Media Professionals – To recognize the signs of AI-generated disinformation, improve fact-checking strategies, and report more effectively on the digital manipulation of political narratives.

  • Civil Society Organizations and NGOs – To raise awareness, educate the public, and advocate for responsible AI use in democratic processes, especially in vulnerable regions like Latin America.

  • Academics and Researchers – To explore an emerging field of study intersecting technology, democracy, and disinformation, and contribute to policy and societal debates with evidence-based research.

  • Technology and AI Developers – To consider the ethical implications of their tools, participate in co-regulation discussions, and build mechanisms to prevent misuse of their platforms.

  • Voters and the General Public – To better understand how AI can influence opinions and choices during elections, fostering media literacy and resilience against manipulation.

The Role of Generative AI in Electoral Disinformation in Latin America

The Role of Generative AI in Electoral Disinformation in Latin America

This policy paper, authored by Martín Pablo Villar for the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, examines the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) as a new tool for disinformation during electoral processes in Latin America. Based on empirical evidence and case studies from 2023 and 2024, the document identifies key moments in which GAI was deployed to manipulate public opinion: during campaigns, on election day, and after polls closed.

It presents examples of manipulated videos, audios, and images aimed at discrediting candidates in countries such as Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina, and Panama. It also analyzes the types of GAI used, including voice cloning, fake visual content generation, and personalized disinformation messages.

The paper details institutional responses to this issue, including regulations like Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court resolution and global agreements signed by tech companies to detect and mitigate AI-generated manipulated content.

Despite these technological advances, the analysis concludes that GAI is not yet capable of altering electoral outcomes on its own. However, it does pose a significant risk to public trust in democratic institutions.

The paper proposes several recommendations directed at electoral authorities, governments, media, and the public, including: digital literacy campaigns, content certification, collaboration with fact-checkers, and the development of legal frameworks for GAI use.

Finally, the author warns against overemphasizing the role of technology while neglecting structural problems that continue to threaten democracy in the region—such as corruption, voter exclusion, judicial manipulation, and lack of electoral transparency.

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