Study Reveals AI Disinformation Had No Major Impact on European Elections
Research from The Alan Turing Institute shows that AI-generated deepfakes and disinformation do not significantly alter recent election outcomes in the UK, France, and the EU. The study uncovers only a small number of viral AI cases across all three elections.
Researchers from The Alan Turing Institute find no evidence that AI-generated disinformation or deepfakes meaningfully impact recent election results in the UK, France, and the European Parliament. The study addresses widespread concerns about generative AI interfering with voting processes during the snap elections held in June and July 2024.
The research team identifies only 16 confirmed viral cases of AI disinformation during the UK general election. In a combined analysis of the EU and French elections, they discover just 11 viral instances of such content spreading online.
These low numbers align with previous research into the use of artificial intelligence during political campaigns. The findings suggest that while AI-generated content exists, it currently lacks the scale or effectiveness to sway major democratic outcomes in Europe.