AI’s Growing Threat to Democracy: How Generative Models Enable Misinformation and Foreign Interference

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence poses an unprecedented challenge to democratic systems worldwide, as these technologies increasingly become tools for manipulating public opinion and disrupting electoral processes.

Since the emergence of powerful AI systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, concerns have mounted about their potential to destabilize democracies. These sophisticated algorithms can produce remarkably convincing text, images, videos, and synthetic voices at unprecedented scale and speed, outpacing both governmental oversight and society’s ability to distinguish fact from fiction.

“The intersection of generative AI models and foreign interference presents a growing threat to global stability and democratic cohesion,” notes a recent analysis examining the phenomenon. These technologies enable both domestic political actors and foreign adversaries to propagate disinformation campaigns with unprecedented efficiency.

The scale of AI-generated content is staggering. Since 2022, more than 15 billion images have been created using text-to-image algorithms, with platforms like DALL-E 2 generating an average of 34 million images daily. This deluge of synthetic media has already infiltrated political discourse in major democracies.

During the 2024 U.S. presidential election, AI-generated deepfakes flooded social media platforms. Former President Trump reposted an AI-generated fake image suggesting Taylor Swift endorsed his campaign, while Democratic opponents circulated fabricated photos of Trump being arrested. These incidents highlight how quickly synthetic content can spread and potentially influence voter perceptions.

Similar problems have emerged globally. Deepfake audio clips of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Slovak opposition leader Michal Šimečka sparked controversies before being identified as fabrications. In Türkiye, a presidential candidate withdrew from the May 2023 election after explicit AI-generated videos went viral. Argentina’s 2023 presidential election witnessed both leading candidates deploying AI deepfakes to mock their opponents, escalating into what analysts describe as “full-blown AI memetic warfare.”

The threat is particularly pronounced for female politicians, who face disproportionate targeting through gender-based disinformation and sexualized deepfakes, eroding public trust in women’s leadership.

Beyond electoral manipulation, these technologies enable more sophisticated forms of digital authoritarianism. Autocratic regimes are refining their use of AI to control populations domestically while deploying the same tools for foreign interference operations.

China stands at the forefront of this trend, advancing its generative AI capabilities while exporting digital authoritarianism through initiatives like the Digital Silk Road, which provides digital infrastructure to developing and authoritarian states. Research indicates that Iran, Russia, and Venezuela are also actively experimenting with and weaponizing generative AI to manipulate information environments globally.

The European Union’s eastern neighbors—Georgia, Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine—are particularly vulnerable to AI-generated disinformation campaigns designed to destabilize societies and derail democratic aspirations. These hybrid threats have prompted the EU to develop more coordinated strategies against foreign information manipulation and interference.

Western technology companies also play a complex role in this landscape. Social media platforms like TikTok have faced scrutiny for potential algorithmic influence on elections. Romanian authorities recently called for TikTok’s suspension amid concerns its algorithm favored a far-right, pro-Kremlin presidential candidate.

Perhaps most concerning is the practice of “demos scraping”—using AI and automated tools to continuously collect and analyze citizens’ digital footprints. When combined with generative AI capabilities, this sophisticated profiling enables highly targeted political messaging tailored to exploit individual biases and vulnerabilities.

Research has revealed that AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok can replicate harmful narratives from authoritarian regimes when prompted. A study by NewsGuard found these systems frequently amplify Russian misinformation and struggle to recognize disinformation sources.

Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach combining regulatory, technical, and educational interventions. Self-regulation by tech companies has proven insufficient, necessitating robust governmental policies to mitigate the creation and spread of synthetic content.

One potential solution is AI content watermarking, which embeds detectable signatures in AI-generated material. The EU’s AI Act mandates transparency measures for AI-generated content, while California’s Digital Content Provenance Standards bill proposes mandatory watermarks—initiatives supported by industry leaders including Microsoft, Adobe, and OpenAI.

However, technical solutions alone cannot solve the problem. Enhancing public digital literacy is equally crucial. Google’s “prebunking” campaign aims to counter misinformation by educating voters about manipulation techniques before they encounter them. Finland leads the EU in digital education initiatives, demonstrating how national AI literacy programs can foster critical thinking and resilience against misinformation.

“Without robust legislation, corporations and individuals are unlikely to prioritize content provenance tools, watermarking techniques, and authenticity systems as solutions for verifying digital content,” notes one assessment of the situation.

As the race between deepfake generation and detection continues, a whole-of-society approach involving governments, technology companies, media organizations, and educational institutions will be essential to preserve democratic discourse in the age of artificial intelligence.