AI Disinformation Threatens South American Security, New Report Warns

A comprehensive intelligence assessment has revealed alarming projections for AI-powered disinformation across South America and the Caribbean, warning of a potential 350-550% increase in such campaigns by 2026. The findings appear in a newly published 412-page report titled “AI Disinformation & Security in South America & Caribbean Zone 2026,” which offers an in-depth analysis of regional vulnerabilities to synthetic media threats.

The research, now available through ResearchAndMarkets.com, examined 247 documented disinformation campaigns spanning 33 countries and territories, providing what may be the most extensive analysis to date of this emerging security challenge in the region.

Since 2023, AI disinformation operations have already surged by 250-400%, according to the report. The proliferation of these campaigns has been accelerated by the emergence of a concerning new market segment: Disinformation-as-a-Service (DaaS) providers who commercialize these capabilities.

WhatsApp has emerged as a primary vector for spreading false information in the region, with threat actors developing specialized capabilities optimized for the messaging platform’s unique ecosystem. This reflects the app’s outsized importance in Latin American digital communication, where it serves as a primary channel for news consumption in many communities.

Venezuela stands out in the assessment as a regional leader in state-sponsored disinformation infrastructure. The country’s “Communicational Hegemony” doctrine has apparently evolved to incorporate sophisticated AI tools, according to case studies included in the report.

The intelligence assessment also highlights growing competition between external powers, with Russia, China, and the United States all conducting influence operations across South America and the Caribbean. These operations frequently exploit local political tensions, economic vulnerabilities, and social divisions.

Particularly concerning is an emerging threat vector involving AI-generated content in indigenous languages, potentially reaching communities previously insulated from conventional disinformation campaigns. This technique allows malicious actors to bypass traditional media monitoring systems that focus primarily on Spanish and Portuguese content.

The report identifies several critical target categories being exploited by disinformation campaigns, including electoral processes, economic policies, social movements, and regional integration efforts. Democratic institutions face particular threats, with several countries experiencing operations explicitly designed to undermine electoral integrity and public trust in governance.

Brazil’s political polarization, Colombia’s peace process, Argentina’s economic crisis, and Chile’s constitutional reforms have all been manipulated through sophisticated disinformation campaigns, according to country-specific case studies detailed in the report.

The assessment provides technical analysis of 78 distinct AI systems being used for disinformation purposes. These include generative AI deepfakes, large language model-powered propaganda across multiple languages, and bot networks coordinating thousands of accounts.

Several major technology companies are mentioned in the report, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, Meta AI, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. The analysis also covers Chinese tech giants Huawei, Baidu, Tencent, and SenseTime, alongside cybersecurity firms like Kaspersky, Darktrace, and CrowdStrike.

The report attributes the region’s particular vulnerability to several factors, including democratic transition challenges, resource competition, geopolitical positioning, and ongoing debates around economic development models and regional integration.

Looking toward the future, the assessment outlines the evolution of disinformation operations from human-directed to increasingly autonomous systems. This transition creates significant attribution challenges for security agencies attempting to identify the sources of false information campaigns.

For business leaders, policy makers, and security professionals working in Latin America, the research offers a sobering projection of how rapidly evolving AI technologies may reshape information integrity and security landscapes across the region over the coming years.

The full 412-page report, which includes detailed vulnerability assessments for each country and territory, is available through ResearchAndMarkets.com, which describes itself as the world’s leading source for international market research reports and market data.