AI-Driven Disinformation Surges in Spain Amid Political Tensions
Iberifier's report details the rise of AI-fueled disinformation in Spain, exploiting both political figures and social issues.
Key Points
- • Significant rise in AI-driven disinformation campaigns between March and May 2025.
- • Figures like Pedro Sánchez and Cristiano Ronaldo are misused to promote fraudulent investments.
- • Immigrant criminality narratives are falsely propagated, fueling xenophobia.
- • Environmental policies face misinformation claiming they threaten rural areas.
A recent report from Iberifier reveals a notable increase in AI-generated disinformation campaigns in Spain and Portugal between March and May 2025, focusing on political and social narratives that capitalize on public concern.
Key figures such as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and football star Cristiano Ronaldo have been misrepresented in misleading content promoting fraudulent investment platforms. Additionally, the recent power outage affecting the Iberian Peninsula has become a rich source for conspiracy theories alleging government sabotage and global elite manipulation.
The report highlights the targeted narratives around immigration, criminality, and public resource usage, with misinformation fueling xenophobic sentiments that falsely link immigrants to crime. Such narratives are designed to stoke societal fears, leading to a heightened atmosphere of division.
Moreover, fake videos involving prominent personalities like Donald Trump and Pope Francis are proliferating, reinforcing misogynistic and transphobic rhetoric. The Catholic Church itself has also faced disinformation, with portrayals ranging from being depicted as satanic to excessively progressive.
Environmental misinformation is also on the rise, claiming that new ecological policies threaten rural livelihoods by suggesting that solar panel installations could destroy olive groves, thereby hindering Spain's energy transition. The Iberifier report underscores the urgent need to address the escalating disinformation challenge in the region, particularly as it pertains to political stability and social cohesion.