AI tools could reshape tactics and misinformation in Spain's upcoming general election
Spain's next general election will be the first national campaign where generative AI is widely accessible, raising concerns about amplified misinformation and targeted political messaging.
As Spain prepares for its forthcoming general election, generative artificial intelligence is becoming a readily available tool for political actors. The technology enables the creation of synthetic audio, video and images that can impersonate candidates, as well as the rapid generation of thousands of posts, memes and comments that appear to come from ordinary citizens. Studies of recent elections in other countries reveal that deepfakes and AI-driven content have been deployed to spread false claims, often in the final hours of a campaign when corrections are difficult.
While AI can also help parties translate messages, answer voter questions and improve accessibility, its capacity to produce cheap, convincing misinformation threatens to deepen existing polarization. Experts recommend watermarking synthetic media, clear labeling of deepfakes and vigilant verification of sources to mitigate these risks.
