The progressive emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly affected the political sphere, generating a broad debate on the consequences arising from the integration of these technologies into democratic processes. The use of AI in electoral campaigns has produced a substantial transformation in the mechanisms of political communication, raising concerns regarding potential risks associated with information distortion and the manipulation of public opinion. From targeted voter identification to the generation of personalized content, AI provides political actors with innovative tools characterized by unprecedented levels of precision and effectiveness, while simultaneously generating criticism concerning possible alterations to the quality of public debate. In order to contribute to the analysis of the relationship between artificial intelligence and electoral campaigns, this article examines the use of AI-based technologies, exploring the ways in which these tools are employed to shape voter engagement and interaction. Furthermore, the study highlights that the impact of AI on democratic processes is not determined solely by the technical capabilities of the systems adopted, but also by the social, cultural, and institutional contexts in which they are implemented. The analysis demonstrates that these technologies can foster new forms of political participation and enhance the adaptability of electoral communication, while at the same time intensifying processes of information degradation and undermining the quality of public discourse.
References
[1]
Baptista, J. P., Rivas-de-Roca, R., Ribeiro, F., & Battista, D. (2026). Shadows and Lights on Fact-Checking Research: Trends, Methodologies, and Empirical Approaches. Communication & Society, 39, 522-540. https://doi.org/10.15581/003.39.1.034
[2]
Battista, D. (2024). Political Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: An Overview of Deepfakes and Their Implications. Society Register, 8, 7-24. https://doi.org/10.14746/sr.2024.8.2.01
[3]
Battista, D. (2025). From Electronic Voting to AI: Lessons from the Estonian Case on the Transformation of Digital Democracy. Em Quest？o, 31, e145465. https://doi.org/10.1590/1808-5245.31.145465
[4]
Battista, D. (2026a). Digital Democracy and SDGs: Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Participation, Awareness, and Risks of Algorithmic Disinformation. In M. J. Yusha’u (Ed.), Communicating Sustainable Development Goals in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (pp. 197-215). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-16800-9_7
[5]
Battista, D. (2026b). Digital Spaces and Political Antagonism: Towards a New Ecosystem of Dissent. Social Issues, 4, 12-21.
[6]
Battista, D., & Cervi, L. (2025). Digital Politics in Transition and the New Logics of Fluid Visibility on Social Media: The Ocasio-Cortez Case. Society Register, 9, 25-42. https://doi.org/10.14746/sr.2025.9.4.02
[7]
Battista, D., & Gallina, M. (2025). Counter-Resistant Digital Communities: The Impact of Truth Social in a Fragmented Society. SocietàMutamentoPolitica, 16, 37-47. https://doi.org/10.36253/smp-16188
[8]
Bender, S. M. L. (2022). Algorithmic Elections. Michigan Law Review, 121, 489-522. https://doi.org/10.36644/mlr.121.3.algorithmic
[9]
Bennett, W. L., & Segerberg, A. (2023). The Logic of Connective Action: Digital Media and the Personalization of Contentious Politics. In S. Coleman, & L. Sorensen (Eds.), Handbook of Digital Politics (pp. 287-338). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800377585.00030
[10]
Berrondo-Otermin, M., & Sarasa-Cabezuelo, A. (2023). Application of Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Detect Fake News: A Review. Electronics, 12, Article 5041. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12245041
[11]
Bode, L. (2016). Political News in the News Feed: Learning Politics from Social Media. Mass Communication and Society, 19, 24-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2015.1045149
[12]
Chadwick, A. (2017). The Hybrid Media System: Politics and Power. Oxford University Press.
[13]
Chesney, R., & Citron, D. K. (2019). Deep Fakes: A Looming Challenge for Privacy, Democracy, and National Security. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3213954
[14]
Crain, M., & Nadler, A. (2019). Political Manipulation and Internet Advertising Infrastructure. Journal of Information Policy, 9, 370-410. https://doi.org/10.5325/jinfopoli.9.2019.0370
[15]
Dahlgren, P. M. (2021). A Critical Review of Filter Bubbles and a Comparison with Selective Exposure. Nordicom Review, 42, 15-33. https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2021-0002
[16]
Denton Jr., R. E., Voth, B., Trent, J. S., & Friedenberg, R. V. (2023). Political Campaign Communication: Principles and Practices. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.
[17]
Duberry, J. (2023). AI and Data-Driven Political Communication (Re)Shaping Citizen-Government Interactions. In S. Nah (Ed.), Research Handbook on Artificial Intelligence and Communication (pp. 231-245). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803920306.00023
[18]
Font, J. (2020). The Quality of Democracy. In D. Muro, & I. Lago (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Spanish Politics (pp. 297-312). Oxford University Press.
[19]
Gallo, M., Fenza, G., & Battista, D. (2022). Information Disorder: What about Global Security Implications? Rivista di Digital Politics, 2, 523-538.
[20]
Johann, M. (2022). Political Participation in Transition: Internet Memes as a Form of Political Expression in Social Media. Studies in Communication Sciences, 22, 149-164. https://doi.org/10.24434/j.scoms.2022.01.3005
[21]
Jungherr, A. (2023). Artificial Intelligence and Democracy: A Conceptual Framework. Social Media + Society, 9, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231186353
[22]
Kleinnijenhuis, J., van Hoof, A. M. J., & van Atteveldt, W. (2019). The Combined Effects of Mass Media and Social Media on Political Perceptions and Preferences. Journal of Communication, 69, 650-673. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqz038
[23]
Kovarik, B. (2025). Revolutions in Communication: Media History from Gutenberg to the Digital Age. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.
[24]
Kreps, S., & Kriner, D. (2023). How AI Threatens Democracy. Journal of Democracy, 34, 122-131. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2023.a907693
[25]
Krishnarajan, S. (2023). Rationalizing Democracy: The Perceptual Bias and (Un)democratic Behavior. American Political Science Review, 117, 474-496. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0003055422000806
[26]
Kugler, J. (2018). Political Capacity and Economic Behavior. Routledge.
[27]
McLuhan, M. (1994). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. MIT Press.
[28]
Nemitz, P. (2018). Constitutional Democracy and Technology in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 376, Article ID: 20180089. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2018.0089
[29]
Nugroho, C. (2026). Digital Cognitive Democracy and the Public Sphere in Indonesia’s Electoral Politics. Frontiers in Communication, 11, Article 1697979. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2026.1697979
[30]
Papathanassopoulos, S., & Giannouli, I. (2025). Political Communication in the Age of Platforms. Encyclopedia, 5, Article 77. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5020077
[31]
Pariser, E. (2011). The Filter Bubble: What the Internet Is Hiding from You. Penguin.
[32]
Saud, M., Ida, R., Mashud, M., Yousaf, F. N., & Ashfaq, A. (2023). Cultural Dynamics of Digital Space: Democracy, Civic Engagement and Youth Participation in Virtual Spheres. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 97, Article ID: 101904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2023.101904
[33]
Shin, D. (2024). Misinformation and Algorithmic Bias. In D. Shin (Ed.), Artificial Misinformation (pp. 15-47). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52569-8_2
[34]
Stark, B., Stegmann, D., Magin, M., & Jürgens, P. (2020). Are Algorithms a Threat to Democracy? The Rise of Intermediaries: A Challenge for Public Discourse. Algorithm Watch.
[35]
Str？mb？ck, J., & Kiousis, S. (2014). 6. Strategic Political Communication in Election Campaigns. In J. Str？mb？ck, & S. Kiousis (Eds.), Political Communication (pp. 109-128). De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110238174.109
[36]
Sudibyo, A., & Nugroho, A. (2026). Constructing Synthetic Political Identity: A Semiotic and Framing Study of AI-Generated Images in Indonesia’s 2024 Election. ETTISAL: Journal of Communication, 11, 63-83. https://doi.org/10.21111/ettisal.v11i1.8
[37]
Sunstein, C. R. (2018). Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media. Princeton University Press.
[38]
Van Dijck, J., Poell, T., & De Waal, M. (2018). The Platform Society: Public Values in a Connective World. Oxford University Press.
[39]
Wihardja, M. M., Muhtadi, B., & Lee, S. A. (2025). Disinformation and Election Propaganda: Impact on Voter Perceptions and Behaviours in Indonesia’s 2024 Presidential Election. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute Singapore.
[40]
Zuboff, S. (2019). Surveillance Capitalism and the Challenge of Collective Action. New Labor Forum, 28, 10-29. https://doi.org/10.1177/1095796018819461
