Artificial Intelligence offers enormous potential and promise. Yet one of the greatest geopolitical risks it presents lies in the use of generative AI (GenAI) to create or amplify disinformation, or to manipulate narratives with malign intent.

GenAI is increasingly being deployed to support transnational crime, aiding cybercriminals in deception, forgery, and fraud. At the same time, it is being used to undermine democratic processes and sow confusion and discord, particularly in fragile states where traditional media may be weak or compromised, and digital literacy remains low.

“Artificial Intelligence holds immense promise—but in the wrong hands, it becomes a powerful tool for disinformation and narrative manipulation. This first-of-its-kind study compares the risks of GenAI-driven disinformation in Europe and Africa, revealing the actors, tactics, and countermeasures needed to protect democratic integrity.”

— Karen Allen & Dr Christopher Nehring

We have already seen GenAI deployed at scale in key geopolitical flashpoints: the Russia–Ukraine war, the Israel–Palestine conflict, across the African Sahel, and during elections in Indonesia, India, Europe, the UK, and the United States.

For the first time, this study, supported by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, compares the current challenges of AI-generated disinformation across Europe and Africa. Co-authored by Karen Allen and Dr Christopher Nehring, the report maps out the actors, tactics, and targets of these influence campaigns. It also offers practical recommendations and countermeasures to help governments, civil society, and the tech sector respond more effectively.