AI’s Growing Impact on Democratic Elections Raises Concerns in Ecuador

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly changing how political campaigns operate and how citizens interact with information during elections, according to a comprehensive study of Ecuador’s 2025 presidential election.

Research shows most Ecuadorians believe AI-generated disinformation influenced their recent presidential election results, with a growing call for regulation to protect democratic processes from manipulation.

The study, which combined surveys, interviews, and sentiment analysis, found that 87% of Ecuadorians support regulating the use of generative AI in electoral campaigns. Citizens showed particular concern about AI’s ability to create and spread convincing fake videos, manipulated images, and false audio recordings that are increasingly difficult to distinguish from authentic content.

“AI articulates algorithms that can be programmed by a political tendency to benefit its candidate,” one survey respondent noted, highlighting fears that the technology “affects impartiality in election campaigns by limiting diversity of opinion and amplifying misinformation.”

During Ecuador’s 2025 presidential race, various political parties used AI to create content supporting their candidates and attacking opponents. According to the digital rights organization Usuarios Digitales, political actors systematically circulated AI-generated content on social media throughout the official campaign period, from manipulated videos to fake endorsements.

The European Union Election Observation Mission confirmed these findings, reporting that “disinformation was widespread in the campaign… The EU Election Observation Mission observed AI-generated and manipulated content on social media, including paid content.”

Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between AI use in campaigns and diminished public trust in both candidate advertisements and election results. While the relationship was modest in strength, the pattern was clear: as AI-generated content increased, citizen trust decreased.

“Without a proper legal framework, AI will continue to be used to influence voters in unethical ways,” one expert interviewed stated. However, most respondents agreed that outright bans are not the solution. Instead, they favor transparent regulation with clear labeling requirements for AI-generated content.

The sentiment analysis revealed citizens primarily feel concern and fear (60%) and distrust (55%) regarding AI’s role in elections. One participant expressed worry that AI “today helps to lie, put you in places you have never visited, shows works you have never done and, worst of all, they invent news at convenience.”

Ecuador is not alone in facing these challenges. Similar patterns have emerged in recent elections across Latin America, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, where AI has accelerated the production and dissemination of misinformation, particularly through social media platforms.

Despite Ecuador having initiatives to regulate AI presented as draft laws, none specifically address electoral risks. The National Electoral Council (CNE) faces criticism for lacking both the regulatory framework and technical capacity to monitor and sanction AI-generated disinformation effectively.

Citizens and experts alike believe the CNE should lead in establishing regulations that would require transparency in AI use, including mandatory labeling of AI content and clear penalties for spreading disinformation. However, they emphasize that regulation alone is insufficient without complementary civic education and digital literacy programs.

“Part of the solution is to generate a culture of verification. We need citizens who are verifiers, who learn that the basis is education, who learn to contrast information,” noted one expert. This approach recognizes that technology itself is neutral—the problems arise from how it’s deployed by humans with specific intentions.

The findings underscore a broader global concern identified in the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024, which recognizes AI-driven disinformation as one of the world’s greatest near-term threats, especially regarding its negative impact on electoral credibility.

As countries worldwide grapple with similar challenges, Ecuador’s experience offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between emerging technologies and democratic processes. The research suggests successful approaches will likely combine appropriate regulation, platform accountability, and enhanced citizen media literacy to ensure AI serves rather than undermines democratic values.