Deepfakes and digital fraud threaten Colombian 2026 presidential election
Cybersecurity experts warned that AI-generated deepfakes, false surveys, fraudulent links and manipulated content are being used to deceive Colombian voters and steal personal and financial data ahead of the May 31, 2026 presidential election.
What happened
Cybersecurity experts from Kaspersky warned of increased digital threats targeting Colombia's May 31, 2026 presidential election. The main risks identified include false surveys, fraudulent links, alarming messages, and AI-manipulated content designed to deceive citizens and steal personal or financial information.
Attackers are using WhatsApp chains, Telegram, SMS and social media to direct people to fraudulent pages or forms collecting sensitive data. The attacks exploit high political conversation volume on social platforms and messaging applications during the electoral period.
Reported impact
Experts warned that digital criminals are exploiting electoral polarization and information urgency to deploy mass digital fraud campaigns targeting over 24 million Colombian voters registered for the election. The manipulation includes false election surveys, AI-generated videos and fake apps designed to steal banking and personal data.
Index analysis
The campaigns combine false election surveys that violate Colombian law prohibiting poll publication in the eight days before voting, fraudulent links disguised in messaging apps, and AI-generated video deepfakes designed to manipulate voter behavior through psychological and computational manipulation tactics.
Governance controls
Kaspersky released a digital security guide warning citizens to distrust any surveys or forms claiming to reveal exclusive voting trends or results, noting that Colombian law prohibits publishing election polls during the eight days preceding the election.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.