Iceland's EU referendum: Disinformation from within the country and AI pose biggest threats

Ahead of Iceland's EU referendum, disinformation has emerged as a significant concern, with experts pointing to domestic sources and artificial intelligence as the main culprits. Political scientist Prof. Eirikur Bergmann noted that the majority of misinformation originated within Iceland, rather than from foreign actors.

University of Iceland research revealed that AI systems generated content about the EU using unreliable sources in 43% of evaluated cases. This highlights a growing challenge in distinguishing accurate information from AI-generated content, especially concerning complex political topics like EU membership.

While initial fears focused on potential Russian interference, these concerns were not borne out by the evidence. Instead, analysis suggests that Icelandic citizens themselves were primary generators of manipulated information, often focusing on sensitive issues such as fishing rights. This internal focus complicates the information landscape for voters.

Iceland's Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir had previously warned of potential foreign disinformation, drawing parallels to the "Brexit scenario" in the UK. However, the current findings suggest a different, more localized threat. Efforts have been made to combat online manipulation, including a system allowing citizens to report suspicious content and actions by authorities to remove fake accounts and bot profiles.

Experts also noted that the Icelandic language's complexity and the population's high education levels and living standards have historically helped shield the country from foreign disinformation campaigns. However, the rise of AI presents a new and evolving challenge that requires ongoing vigilance and adaptation.