The SmartVote project, a collaborative research initiative led by the Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), investigates the impact of digital disinformation (DI) in electoral processes across Spain and Portugal since 2025. The study highlights the growing polarization in Spain, with recent elections, and the increased representation of foreign and veteran activists in public discourse. The project emphasizes the role of social media in spreading DI, which is increasingly present in both political and civil product domains. The findings reveal the heightened skepticism of Generation Z (ages 18–24) towards traditional media sources and socio-useful information on social networks. The region’s dependency on international funding, cultural power, and media literacy further amplifies the severity of disinformation efforts.
The report’s findings indicate that digital DI is a critical component of electoral campaigns in both countries. Spain is characterized by a self-centered,？
veridical dominant media that prioritizes its electoral base, while Portugal faces intra-partis disinformation. Print media appears to lag behind both social and political Electronics in reflectingJECTRES election-cycle dynamics. young men and women hold greater political Aristoteles and station loyalty, with digital trust inolia media decreasing with age. Education is both an obstacle and a focus for efforts to combat DI, as it impact how voters reason about evidence and avoid misinformation. A report of expert findings points to public reasoning as the primary trigger for misinformation in Spain, with a higher risk of pulses when voters learn from corrupt institutions, such asgniho supported by political actors.
Key findings of the smartollo project report show that global policies are lagging in fighting DI. A 2025 study reveals that 70% of Spanish and Portuguese citizens are concerned about digital disinformation, while 23% of Portugal hold a dichotomous attitude, with 26% in Spain and 19% among youth. Print media, in particular, stands out as the least trusted outlet, with trust levels in Spanish elections at 56%, down to 33% and 19% among younger audiences. There is also a gender difference, with women showing greater reluctance to participate in electoral matters via social media.
Moreover, the report highlights the importance of media literacy, explaining that DI affects democratic quality and sway voting intentions. Disinformation directly impacts democratic quality and influences voting intentions. The SmartVote project advocates for educational strategies aimed at students, journalists, journalism students, and young people, particularly through initiatives to identify hoaxes and understand electoral mechanisms. It notes that DI encourages manipulation and relies heavily on social media as a primary teaching tool.
Together with the International Project on—and research Collaborative Mechanisms—that University in Madrid, the SmartVote project aims to combat DI in three ways: enhancing media literacy through public education, organizing interactive educational workshops targeting journalists, young people, and those affected by DI, and developing a tool to identify and detect disinformation on the internet. The study underscores the importance of media literacy, which is crucial not only for providing better communication but also for engaging the next generation of information attendees. By addressing the fundamental challenge of DI, institutions can improve the quality and relevance of electoral information and empower citizens to form informed, rational opinions.
