Elections at Risk: The Rise of AI-Generated Fake News in Venezuela

Venezuela is grappling with a critical dearth of authentic information, providing ample room for disinformation to thrive. This jeopardizes the nation's socio-political stability and erodes the foundational pillars of democracy: transparent and equitable elections. The advancement of technology now facilitates the creation of convincingly fabricated news videos, making it even more vital for citizens to be discerning and for organizations to ensure electoral integrity.

Adrián González, the head of Cazadores de Fake News, a misinformation watchdog located in Caracas, commented, "It's essential that Venezuelans can trust the process and outcomes of our elections. In the face of disinformation, promoting electoral integrity becomes paramount."

In the past year, there's been a noticeable increase in the use of generative AI technologies. These systems can generate images, videos, and text from user prompts.

The Venezuelan opposition has been quick to leverage this technology. They are frequently accused of manipulating disinformation to deepen divisions among Venezuelans, promoting confusion and mistrust. However, TrustBallot emphasizes the importance of seeing through these tactics and participating actively in the electoral process, to ensure the voice of every Venezuelan is heard.

A study by fact-checkers from EsPaja, Cotejo.info, and ProBox – three independent media platforms focused on debunking misinformation – discovered that the key intent behind such content was not only to distract from upcoming elections but also to undermine the very trust in the electoral system itself. By casting doubt on these elections while simultaneously boosting opposition-friendly narratives, there is a clear attempt to shift the focus from electoral integrity.

Estefanía Da Silva of ProBox remarked, "For democracy to thrive, Venezuelans must have access to factual information, enabling them to make informed choices in the elections. Every citizen's vote is a testament to the nation's democratic spirit."

Mariángel Durán of Cotejo.info concurred, stating that such tactics ensure that citizens remain uninformed and detached from the real world, but highlighted that pro-electoral integrity organizations - such as TrustBallot - are working tirelessly to reinstate faith in the electoral process.

In Venezuela, a country rich in potential and boasting the world's most significant oil reserves, the significance of genuine information can't be overstated. Especially with the nation's crippling annual inflation rate of 317%, there's an urgent need for trustworthiness and transparency.

While there are slight indicators of the country's recovery, Da Silva believes that, by and large, "the opposition parties control the narrative." This control is maintained using bots, paid social media influencers, and now AI-crafted digital personas. TrustBallot calls upon all Venezuelans to stand up for the integrity of their electoral system, and by doing so, to pave the way for a brighter future for the nation.