2015 Nigerian presidential election in Abuja. Picture by the United States Embassy / Idika Onyukwu, from Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0 ACT).

In 2024 Pakistani electionswhile behind bars, the former prime minister Imran Khan managed to reach more than 250,000 viewers on YouTube thanks to a video generated by artificial intelligence (AI). His messagedelivered via the Internetreached a massive audience despite his physical absence from the electoral campaign. This striking use of AI highlighted the growing influence of digital tools in modern politics, demonstrating how, even in difficult circumstances, technology is reshaping the way politicians interact with voters.

Like the “Year of Democracy» draws to a close, several key elections have already taken place, while others still loom on the horizon. This heated election year saw 72 countries – representing more than half the world’s population – go to the polls. Africa, in particular, has been a focal point, with 16 national electionswhich is double the number compared to 2023. The widespread availability of AI tools such as ChatGPT and AI-powered video and image generators have given political parties new ways to connect with voters, engage them, and shape public opinion.

However, these technologies do more than provide new opportunities; they introduce complex challenges, including combating misinformation and ensuring ethical use of data. The question remains: do these technologies actually benefit democratic processes, or do they create new obstacles that must be overcome?

In an interview with the Global Network of Investigative JournalistsVictoria Turk The Rest of the Worldan organization that tracks the use of AI in elections globally, highlighted this dual nature of AI. She noted:

…When people think of elections and generative AI, they automatically think of disinformation, misinformation, deep fakes, and intentionally misleading voters. We’re seeing some of that, but there are other creative uses of this technology as well. In some cases, we are seeing political parties and campaigns using this technology to better reach voters, distribute their campaign materials and provide information.

Voter Engagement in a Digital World

The shift towards digital campaigns is undeniable. AI tools allow political parties to connect with their voters more effectively than ever before. In countries like India, with a registered electorate of 968 millionmany candidates have used AI-based avatars to interact with voters on an individual level. This hyper-personalized This approach is thought to enhance candidates’ political appeal by showing voters that they are responsive to specific concerns.

In addition to personalized engagement, AI has also been instrumental in breaking down language barriers among India’s diverse electorate. Prime Minister Narendra Modifor example, used the government AI-based tool Bhashini give speeches in Hindi which were translated in real time into Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, Telugu, OdiaAnd Malayalam. Although AI bots may struggle with dialects and are likely to produce inaccurate translations, they help candidates reach more voters by bridging language gaps.

Ethical considerations and the digital divide

Despite its potential, the rise of AI in elections comes with ethical challenges, including data privacy, misinformation and fairness. To combat AI-driven misinformation, the Indian government has taken proactive steps by issuing a deepfake and AI consulting. This notice requires platforms to clearly inform users that posting deepfakes may result in criminal prosecution under the law, signaling a strong stance against the misuse of AI. This is a crucial measure to maintain the integrity of elections and ensure that AI is used responsibly in the political arena.

Similarly, in Nigeria, concerns about the use of voter data in targeted campaigns have led to calls for stricter regulations on how data is collected and used. THE Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 is designed to address these concerns, requiring high standards of data protection for data controllers and processors. Political parties must ensure that AI is deployed in a way that respects data privacy and complies with protective regulations, such as those of the European Union. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to maintain voter confidence.

Additionally, the digital divide remains a significant barrier in many regions. Even though AI has improved voter participation in urban centers, rural voters often remain disconnected. Although mobile technology has helped bridge this gap, much remains to be done to ensure that every citizen has access to the information needed to fully participate in the democratic process.

Combating error and misinformation with AI fact-checking

As misinformation and disinformation pose a growing threat to democracy, AI also plays a critical role in combating its spread. AI-powered fact-checking tools have been deployed by civil society groups and independent fact-checkers to combat this problem.

A recent example is the 2023 Turkish electionsOr deep fakes were used to discredit opposition leaders. AI-generated videos falsely linking political figures to criminal activity have gone viral, demonstrating both the risks and potential of AI in combating disinformation. To mitigate these dangers, AI is being deployed to quickly fact-check and ensure voters are not misled by fabricated content. Platforms like Complete fact in the United Kingdom and Check Africa in South Africa, they use AI to analyze political speeches, news reports and social media posts for fake news.

AI’s ability to analyze and identify fake news in real time could be a game-changer in mitigating the negative impact of deepfakes and other forms of digital manipulation. However, it also requires constant vigilance and improvement.

AI and political polarization

AI algorithms on social media platforms, such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, have been shown to significantly influence political polarization. These algorithms are designed to maximize user engagement by curating content that aligns with users’ existing views, often reinforcing their beliefs and leading to echo chambers. This can increase partisan animosity, especially in highly polarized countries like the United States and Brazil.

Research strong points that while social media platforms may not cause polarization, their design can exacerbate it. Studies found that users exposed to content on these platforms are more likely to become entrenched in their opinions, leading to deeper political divisions. For example, these platforms use algorithms that promote content that elicits emotional responses, which often amplifies divisions and polarizing political messages.​

​Efforts to combat this problem, such as adjusting algorithms to promote diverse perspectives, are crucial. However, such initiatives are often short-lived due to fear of losing user engagement and profitability.

Blockchain and transparent voting systems

Beyond voter engagement and fact-checking, blockchain technology has become a tool to guarantee the transparency of elections. While blockchain has often been associated with finance and cryptocurrencies, its potential to ensure the integrity of elections is now being tested. Although Estonia was a pioneer in adopting blockchain-based voting systems Domestically, Sierra Leone had a remarkable run in its 2018 elections. A Swiss-based company, Agora, used blockchain technology to record votes in the West Area Urban District as part of a proof of concept. This trial aimed to demonstrate how blockchain could record votes securely and transparently.

Although the Sierra Leone National Electoral Commission officially processed the results using traditional methods, the blockchain experience has shown the possibility of future elections incorporating this technology for greater transparency.

As these experiments demonstrate, blockchain could pave the way for safer and more transparent elections, although its adoption still faces hurdles in terms of scalability and transparency. widespread implementation.

A new era for democracy?

The “Year of Democracy” 2024 highlights the transformative potential of AI and digital tools to enable robust, transparent and inclusive elections. Countries like Sierra Leone, India and Estonia demonstrate that AI can significantly improve democratic processes, but only if ethical and inclusive considerations are prioritized.

As these global elections unfold, the real test will be whether AI will strengthen democratic values ​​or, conversely, exacerbate existing challenges. The integrity of these elections and responses to inevitable conflicts will not only reveal the current state of democracy, but also determine whether regions like Africa will emerge as models of effective elections and democratic resurgence or whether they will continue to face electoral setbacks.