AI amplified election disinformation in Namibia, report finds
Harder to distinguish fact from fiction
A Namibia Fact Check project found that despite the low quality of cheaply produced fake images and videos shared online before last year's elections, they still shaped the political views of many Namibians.
Artificial intelligence (AI) played a significant role in spreading false and misleading information during Namibia’s 2024 elections, according to a new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
The findings stem from a five-month monitoring project, conducted by Namibia Fact Check, that revealed how AI-generated content influenced political discourse and misled voters.
The project, which ran from November 2024 to this month, was supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). It examined how political figures and their affiliates used both traditional and social media to spread false narratives.
“We wanted to understand not just what kind of false information was circulating but also who was spreading it and how it was reaching the public," the IPPR's Frederico Links explained about the project.
According to Links, one of the report’s key findings was the misuse of social media.
Links said many Namibian political parties and politicians, even those with large followings, did not use their platforms to present policies or commitments to voters.
"Instead, their pages were often used for attacking opponents or responding to criticism. Some parties used their social media presence to promote their campaigns by sharing photos, video clips, and slogans, but smear campaigns were also prevalent," he said during an event on Tuesday.
The report highlighted two major smear campaigns: ongoing attacks against Panduleni Itula and the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) since early 2024 and targeted disinformation against President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in the lead up to the elections.
False stories
Links pointed out how AI tools were used to fabricate political attacks.
“These AI-generated images and videos were not even of high quality. Many of them were created using free online AI tools, and yet they still managed to shape political narratives and mislead voters.”
Among the most widely shared pieces of AI-generated disinformation was a manipulated video falsely depicting President Nandi-Ndaitwah collapsing.
Another video urged voters to reject IPC, falsely claiming the party was a British proxy. AI-generated images circulated on social media and in WhatsApp groups, while 'fake' videos featuring US politicians Joe Biden and Donald Trump made false statements about Namibia’s resources and support for the ruling party.
Across borders
Beyond the use of AI, the report also pointed to possible foreign influence in the elections. It documented narratives claiming that Swapo received financial backing from China in exchange for control over strategic resources.
Some disinformation campaigns seemed to originate from within Swapo itself, as internal rivalries played out through AI-driven propaganda, the report found.
“We still don’t know exactly who was behind many of these smear campaigns,” Links admitted. “What we do know is that AI tools made it easier for misinformation to spread and harder for the public to distinguish fact from fiction.”
The Namibia Fact Check project calls for increased public awareness, improved fact-checking mechanisms and stronger regulations to prevent the spread of false information in future elections.
The findings stem from a five-month monitoring project, conducted by Namibia Fact Check, that revealed how AI-generated content influenced political discourse and misled voters.
The project, which ran from November 2024 to this month, was supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). It examined how political figures and their affiliates used both traditional and social media to spread false narratives.
“We wanted to understand not just what kind of false information was circulating but also who was spreading it and how it was reaching the public," the IPPR's Frederico Links explained about the project.
According to Links, one of the report’s key findings was the misuse of social media.
Links said many Namibian political parties and politicians, even those with large followings, did not use their platforms to present policies or commitments to voters.
"Instead, their pages were often used for attacking opponents or responding to criticism. Some parties used their social media presence to promote their campaigns by sharing photos, video clips, and slogans, but smear campaigns were also prevalent," he said during an event on Tuesday.
The report highlighted two major smear campaigns: ongoing attacks against Panduleni Itula and the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) since early 2024 and targeted disinformation against President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in the lead up to the elections.
False stories
Links pointed out how AI tools were used to fabricate political attacks.
“These AI-generated images and videos were not even of high quality. Many of them were created using free online AI tools, and yet they still managed to shape political narratives and mislead voters.”
Among the most widely shared pieces of AI-generated disinformation was a manipulated video falsely depicting President Nandi-Ndaitwah collapsing.
Another video urged voters to reject IPC, falsely claiming the party was a British proxy. AI-generated images circulated on social media and in WhatsApp groups, while 'fake' videos featuring US politicians Joe Biden and Donald Trump made false statements about Namibia’s resources and support for the ruling party.
Across borders
Beyond the use of AI, the report also pointed to possible foreign influence in the elections. It documented narratives claiming that Swapo received financial backing from China in exchange for control over strategic resources.
Some disinformation campaigns seemed to originate from within Swapo itself, as internal rivalries played out through AI-driven propaganda, the report found.
“We still don’t know exactly who was behind many of these smear campaigns,” Links admitted. “What we do know is that AI tools made it easier for misinformation to spread and harder for the public to distinguish fact from fiction.”
The Namibia Fact Check project calls for increased public awareness, improved fact-checking mechanisms and stronger regulations to prevent the spread of false information in future elections.
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