Chilean Democracy Under Threat from Far-Right Disinformation Campaign

Chile’s upcoming presidential runoff on December 14 is being overshadowed by a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at undermining trust in the country’s electoral system. Far-right sectors, primarily supporting candidate José Antonio Kast, have deployed a network of troll accounts and bots to spread allegations of “electoral fraud” ahead of the vote.

Political scientists and digital researchers have identified this as a deliberate strategy following a familiar pattern seen across Latin America. Miguel Torres Romero, a social science researcher from the University of Buenos Aires, describes it as a “known, adaptable, and emotionally effective script” that requires no factual evidence to function effectively.

The tactic isn’t new to Chile’s political landscape. After his 2021 electoral defeat, Kast himself laid groundwork for such narratives by stating to Radio Agricultura: “We are not accusing massive fraud; we say there could be errors,” while calling for reviews of polling stations. This measured public stance contrasted with the thousands of bot accounts simultaneously spreading more explicit fraud allegations online.

These claims persist despite Chile’s electoral authority (SERVEL) being led until recently by Andrés Tagle, an electoral expert from the UDI party—Kast’s former political home—raising questions about the logical inconsistency of the fraud narrative.

Fact-checkers have repeatedly debunked specific allegations. After the November 16 first round, social media posts about “uneven polling stations” in the SERVEL system went viral. AFP’s “Factual” verification service determined these were normal typing errors in preliminary results, which are systematically corrected during the provisional and final stages by Scrutiny Colleges and the Electoral Qualification Court (Tricel). International observers from Electoral Transparency reported finding no evidence supporting fraud claims.

The strategy employs specific emotional triggers to mobilize voters. Torres Romero’s analysis shows how fraud allegations deliberately evoke outrage, fear, and a collective sense of grievance. Social media amplifies this effect, as unverified content—blurry videos, decontextualized testimonies, or misleading screenshots—can reach millions before fact-checkers can respond.

These digital campaigns have begun spilling into real-world confrontations. Journalist Josefa Barraza, serving as a polling table president in Puente Alto, reported a voter accusing officials of falsifying votes based on viral TikTok content. When asked to formally report specific allegations, the individual left without providing evidence.

Experts warn of broader implications beyond this election. Paulina Ibarra, director of Fundación Multitudes, has characterized such campaigns as a “gateway to authoritarianism,” drawing parallels to strategies employed by Trump supporters before the Capitol attack and Bolsonaro’s base in Brazil.

The disinformation push appears to serve dual purposes. First, it preemptively frames potential electoral defeat as systemic theft rather than voter rejection. Torres Romero explains this operates as “damage control,” politically profitable regardless of factual sustainability. Second, it systematically weakens public confidence in democratic institutions like SERVEL and Tricel.

Chile’s electoral system has multiple safeguards—including party representatives at polling stations, transparent counting procedures, and multi-level verification—but social media narratives can undermine trust despite these protections. As one analyst noted, “fraud” is increasingly defined through social media timelines rather than courts, with suspicion spreading faster than verification.

The most serious formally reported electoral irregularity actually involves allegations against Lipigas company, which reportedly sent messages to customers explicitly promoting Kast after the legal campaign period ended, some containing xenophobic content. Kast’s campaign has filed no official fraud complaints with electoral authorities.

Meanwhile, right-wing sectors have launched a website called “Let’s Count the Records” for a “parallel count,” raising concerns about creating alternative vote tabulations outside official channels. Some social media posts promoting the “electoral fraud” narrative have included concerning calls to “defend votes,” language reminiscent of pre-violence rhetoric seen in other countries.

Electoral experts warn that this strategy threatens not just immediate social peace on election day but risks casting a shadow of illegitimacy over the next government, potentially complicating governance regardless of who wins.