• The Dutch Data Protection Authority warns against using AI chatbots for voting advice.
• AI chatbots recommended extreme political parties more frequently.
• The findings signal a potential threat to democratic integrity in the upcoming elections.

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) has cautioned voters against consulting artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots for voting advice, deeming such tools "unreliable and clearly biased". The watchdog's report, released just days before the national elections on October 29, highlights that the chatbots tested tend to recommend fringe political parties, particularly the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) and the left-wing GroenLinks-PvdA alliance, raising concerns over their impact on democracy, according to thejakartapost, aa, and aljazeera.

The watchdog's research involved testing four AI chatbots, including ChatGPT and Mistral. Results indicated that over 50% of the time, the AI suggested either the PVV or the GroenLinks-PvdA as the best match for users. In contrast, centrist parties like the Christian Democratic Appeal and the Christian Union were rarely recommended, at rates of just 1.3% and 0.3%, respectively. This phenomenon has been described as a "vacuum cleaner effect," where political polarization occurs as chatbots filter voters' preferences, according to thejakartapost and aa.

Monique Verdier, deputy chair of the AP, expressed concern that voters might be steered toward parties misaligned with their true preferences, which poses a threat to the democratic process. She noted that the operation of AI chatbots often lacks transparency and verification, further complicating their reliability as voting aids. “This directly impacts a cornerstone of democracy: the integrity of free and fair elections,” Verdier stated, urging developers to prevent chatbots from providing voting recommendations, according to aljazeera and aa.

The upcoming elections are significantly shaped by the PVV's popularity, as the party has consistently led opinion polls following a notable increase in seats won in the 2023 elections. However, despite this, no major political parties have indicated a willingness to form a coalition with the PVV, complicating their path to power. As citizens increasingly seek guidance from AI for decision-making, the implications of such reliance could critically alter the political landscape in the Netherlands, according to aljazeera.