Politics · Spain · 1 hr ago
AI-made videos fuel distrust in Spain’s mail voting
After an election was called in Spain on October 5, AI-generated videos began circulating that appeared to show mail ballots being destroyed or handed out at a protest.
The videos were marked as AI-generated on some platforms, but those labels can disappear when clips are downloaded and shared on WhatsApp.
Santiago Abascal also urged people not to vote by mail, saying he did not trust anything Pedro Sánchez could do.
The videos do not need to persuade viewers that they are real to make them see scenes that may leave a lasting impression.
The concern is not only whether false videos change votes, but whether they make people less sure they can trust elections and information.
A study of the 2024 US election found no evidence that AI had affected its result, but the article says today’s videos can spread more widely than text messages did then.
Voters are advised to check who shared a clip, whether other people are discussing it and when it appeared, especially if it makes them angry or confirms what they already believe.
A series of AI-generated videos in Spain depicted alleged problems with mail voting and carried the message that postal voting could not be trusted.
The videos began circulating two days after elections were called on Monday, October 5, according to La Vanguardia.
The article says most of the videos were marked as AI-generated on the platforms where they appeared.
Santiago Abascal urged people not to vote by mail on October 5, saying he did not trust anything Pedro Sánchez might do.
The article argues that misleading videos can fuel distrust even when viewers do not believe what they show.
- Who
- The videos targeted Spain’s mail-voting process; Santiago Abascal also urged people not to vote by mail.
- What
- AI-generated videos showed fabricated scenes involving postal ballots and promoted the message that mail voting could not be trusted.
- When
- The elections were called on Monday, October 5; a dozen videos were circulating by Wednesday.
- Where
- The videos circulated on social media, including Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
- Why
- The article says the videos aimed to make people see and remember alleged fraud, potentially deepening distrust; it does not identify who made them for that purpose.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
absolutely nothing
I saw it on the internet
Elections were called, and Santiago Abascal urged people not to vote by mail.
About a dozen videos warning that mail voting could not be trusted were circulating.
- Election called
- Monday, October 5
- Videos circulating
- About a dozen by Wednesday
- Platforms named
- Instagram, YouTube and TikTok
- Public concern
- Nine in ten Spaniards believe many hoaxes circulate, according to the CIS
Sources
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