Four out of ten Swedes find it difficult to determine whether a political post in social media is AI generated, according to the report "Swedes and the internet: Election special 2026" by the Swedish Internet Foundation.
A total of 88 percent of respondents expect AI will be used to create fake videos or images to influence the election result.
"More than 4 in 10 Swedes believe that AI will reduce people's understanding of opponents in politics and social issues by providing answers that confirm existing opinions. Only 7 percent believe that AI will increase people's understanding of opponents by providing answers that open up new ways of thinking," reads the report.
The report also found that vote compasses and party leader debates are the key tools which help Swedes decide who to vote for.
One in five has refrained from expressing political views online due to a fear of hate and threats. The figure is unchanged compared to 2022.
Television, followed by radio and newspapers, is the most important source of political information for respondents. But the report also found that an increasing number of people consume political content via TikTok and podcasts.
"Half of all Swedes engage with political content on social media, and one in four does so daily," reads the report.
Swedes will go to the polls on September 13th to cast their vote in the election.
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