AI's potential impact on European elections: could it influence your decision at the polls?
The European Commission has taken a significant step in combating misinformation during elections by negotiating a code of good conduct for political parties to refrain from producing, using, or disseminating misleading content. However, the code's application is largely symbolic.
The EU's primary weapon against the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for misinformation during elections is the EU AI Act, which came into force on August 2, 2025. This Act introduces tailored obligations for general-purpose AI (GPAI) models, capable of generating text, images, videos, and other content that could be used for misinformation.
Key measures in the Act include transparency and documentation, risk assessment and mitigation, incident reporting, and a voluntary Code of Practice for GPAI providers. Providers must disclose how their models work, the datasets used for training, and the risks involved. They must also carry out mandatory evaluations and continuous mitigation strategies to minimize harm to fundamental rights and security.
The Act also requires providers to document and report serious incidents where misuse or harm occurs due to their models. Additionally, the European Commission has released a voluntary Code of Practice specifically for GPAI providers, focusing on transparency, safety, and copyright.
Regulatory oversight of the AI Act will be handled by the EU AI Office, with initial reviews of new models starting in 2026 and oversight of existing models commencing in 2027. Non-compliance can trigger fines and sanctions.
At the member state level, Denmark has proposed legislation targeting AI-generated deepfakes to counter misinformation and protect individuals' rights by preventing the creation and distribution of manipulated audio-visual content.
The AI Act is the first comprehensive regulation on AI established by a major regulatory body. It categorizes AI applications into three risk categories: unacceptable, high-risk, and largely exempt from regulation. The use of AI by political parties in Europe is not uncommon, with examples such as Renaissance! in France.
As the European elections of June 2024 approach, concerns about AI misuse are mounting. Dr. Katja Muñoz predicts that generative AI will be used in these elections. In the past, deepfakes targeting Slovak politician Michal Šimečka caused a stir during legislative elections, raising questions about their impact on the political result.
The use of AI for self-promotion or denigration by both shadowy groups and political forces is a growing concern. TikTok is full of simulations where public figures are attributed false or manipulated statements. The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, for instance, created a digitally generated opponent, Tobias Mayer, for promotional purposes.
European authorities are taking measures to combat disinformation campaigns for the upcoming elections, meeting with tech companies and the European Commission. Failure to comply with the Digital Services Act, which removes manifestly inauthentic profiles or conversational bots from platforms, can result in fines of up to 6% of a platform's global turnover.
Despite these measures, the European elections of 2024 are expected to be a bit of a "Wild West" regarding the use of AI. It is crucial for everyone to question the facts presented for their context, sources, and potential impact, as the multiplication of dissemination media overwhelms us with information.
Artificial Intelligence is now a part of daily life, and it is essential to ensure that it is used responsibly and ethically in the political arena. The EU AI Act is a significant step towards achieving this goal, creating a multi-layered approach to limiting AI’s role in spreading electoral misinformation, emphasizing transparency, accountability, risk management, and enforcement within the EU’s digital and democratic ecosystem.
- The European Union's AI Act, effective from August 2, 2025, aims to regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the context of elections, with a focus on general-purpose AI (GPAI) models that generate content for potential misinformation.
- In the realm of politics, the AI Act introduces obligations for GPAI providers, including transparency, risk assessment, and incident reporting, as part of an effort to combat misuse of AI technology during elections.
