The 2025 Chilean presidential runoff exposed a sophisticated disinformation effort targeting female candidates through anonymous online networks, underscoring the complexity of authoritarian disinformation and the critical need for multifaceted responses beyond platform governance alone.
- Disinformation targeted female presidential candidates in Chile’s 2025 election.
- Independent journalism and fact-checking are critical but underfunded defenses.
- Broader governmental action needed beyond regulating online platforms.
What happened
In the weeks leading up to Chile’s 2025 presidential election, journalists uncovered a coordinated campaign spreading false claims about candidates, particularly aiming disinformation at female contenders Evelyn Matthei and Jeanette Jara. The misleading content, including allegations about Matthei’s health, was disseminated through anonymous online accounts suspected to be linked to the Republican Party. Despite denials from party leadership, responsibility remains unclear as investigations continue.
The case highlights how entrenched gender stereotypes combined with political motivations make female candidates especially vulnerable to targeted disinformation. This pattern is not unique to Chile; similar tactics have been documented in electoral contests worldwide, where disinformation campaigns are used strategically to influence public opinion and undermine trust in democratic processes.
Why it matters
Current debates on curbing disinformation mainly focus on reforming platform governance to tackle harmful content online. However, disinformation as a tool of authoritarian control entails more complex dynamics that go beyond platform policies. Authoritarian disinformation campaigns aim to sabotage democratic accountability by disabling the flow of accurate information and silencing dissent.
Because these campaigns often involve anonymous or foreign actors, coordinated private networks, and increasingly sophisticated techniques—including AI-generated content—countering them requires robust support for independent investigative journalism and fact-checking organizations. Unfortunately, these essential players face financial hardships and risks from harassment, weakening their ability to expose disinformation campaigns effectively.
What to watch next
Monitoring how Chile and other democracies strengthen support for independent journalism and fact-checking will be critical to assessing the broader fight against authoritarian disinformation. Initiatives that improve funding, legal protections, and public trust in credible reporting can help counterbalance the influence of disinformation networks during elections and beyond.
Moreover, the evolving role of technology companies in collaborating with fact-checkers and maintaining transparency about content moderation remains a key area to watch. The withdrawal of platform commitments to independent verification threatens to weaken defenses against disinformation, making coordinated government and civil society responses more urgent to protect electoral integrity globally.