UNESCO: Freedom of Expression, Artificial Intelligence, and Elections

This 2025 issue brief, authored by electoral expert Ajay Patel and jointly published by UNESCO and the UN Development Programme, surveys the impact of AI on freedom of expression in the context of elections. Foregrounding international standards on freedom of expression and access to information, the paper aims to inform electoral practitioners on addressing the risks of AI – including deep fakes, voter manipulation, false information, lack of transparency, breaches of data privacy, bias, and gendered disinformation – as well as harnessing its benefits. The latter could contribute to information integrity in free and fair elections through multi-stakeholder coalitions, strategic communication campaigns, media capacity building, digital platforms’ cooperation, and media literacy programs, among others.