At the same time, while in 2023 there were 60 unique election-related fakes, with 3,836 copies, in 2024 their number increased 2.5 times to 149. At the same time, the number of copies of these fakes increased to 73,352, which indicates a growth in the scale of disinformation. Most of the false information was related to the Russian presidential election, with 130 unique fakes and 72,237 copies of fakes. Fakes were particularly active on voting days and in the period leading up to them.
It is predicted that on the days of the Single Voting Day (SVD) from September 12 to 14, 2025, there will be a massive spread of fakes created by artificial intelligence. Ella Pamfilova, chair of Russia's Central Election Commission, stressed that combating such fakes is an important part of ensuring a safe information space:
"It cannot be denied that the rapid development of generative neural networks has been exploited not only by creative people, but also by political fraudsters. The spread of fake news with generated illustrations and video deepfakes can be aimed at discrediting specific individuals or the electoral system as a whole. Our task is to counter dangerous fakes with truth, professionalism, and common sense," said the head of the CEC of Russia.
The CEC traditionally renews agreements with partners before elections, and this year it renewed its agreement with ANO Dialog Regions, which is actively engaged in information and outreach work. In a short period of time, the organization has created a system of effective communication between citizens and authorities, including the creation of a network of Regional Management Centers. These centers will help identify risks of disinformation and fraud.
The most popular types of fakes remain text messages concerning violations in the election process, such as vote buying, fraud, and ballot stuffing. False reports of vandalism and terrorist attacks at polling stations are also widespread, as are fakes aimed at discrediting electronic voting and influencing voter turnout.
Vladimir Tabak, Director General of ANO Dialog Regions, noted that in today's world, fakes influence public opinion and the image of countries:
“Verifying the accuracy of information, fact-checking, and bringing together people with expertise in this area is what we do on an ongoing basis. In my opinion, critical thinking and compliance with information security rules need to be developed on a national and global scale,” Vladimir Tabak explained.
In addition, the head of Dialog Regions emphasized that the creation, dissemination, and consumption of fake news has already become a global trend, and therefore the organization must debunk fake news and convey reliable information to voters. According to Vladimir Tabak, the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN), created with the participation of Dialog Regions, will allow world-class experts to be involved in this work.
The agreement between the CEC and Dialog Regions was signed in 2021 with the aim of cooperating in the field of information work on elections, including identifying risks and organizing training for election commission staff, as well as preparing content for social media communities of regional commissions. In 2025, the cooperation will be expanded to effectively counter the growing threat of fake information.