Concerns Rise Over Disinformation Campaigns in German Election

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As Germany approaches its upcoming Bundestag election, the far-right party Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) stands in second place in opinion polls, fueled by a significant online presence. Experts indicate that pro-AfD narratives are proliferating on social media, driven by both artificial intelligence-generated content and Russian disinformation campaigns like "Doppelganger" and "Storm-1516," which previously targeted U.S. elections, according to analysts from the Center for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy (CeMAS).

Notable tactics include the creation of fake news articles and deep-fake videos accusing prominent politicians of misconduct. For instance, in November 2024, a misleading AI video falsely claimed a parliament member supportive of Ukraine was a Russian spy. CeMAS has identified a systematic effort to discredit established parties while bolstering the AfD's image.

In addition to foreign interference, domestic far-right groups are harnessing the power of generative AI, with the AfD being the most prolific user among German political parties. A recent survey indicated that 80% of Germans view online disinformation as a critical societal issue impacting public opinions, highlighting an urgent challenge as voters head to the polls this Sunday.

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