The dissemination of manipulated statements falsely attributed to presidential candidates and the circulation of alleged endorsements from public figures that never existed were among the main disinformation phenomena recorded in Portugal during the 2026 presidential elections, held in January 2026. This is one of the findings of the latest report by the Iberian Digital Media Observatory (IBERIFIER), which analyses the main disinformation campaigns identified in Portugal and Spain between December 2025 and February 2026.
According to the report, the election period was marked by the proliferation of manipulated content on social media, including fabricated images, videos and texts that attributed non-existent political positions, statements and endorsements to candidates. On such example.
In many cases, false stories were presented as though they had been published by reputable news organisations, giving them an appearance of legitimacy.
In Spain, the Adamuz railway accident in Córdoba was one of the main focuses of disinformation during the period under review. Following the disaster, manipulated images, AI-generated content, false information regarding the number of victims, and conspiracy theories alleging, without evidence, acts of sabotage attributed to Russia, Israel or supposed elites spread widely across social media. Misleading narratives also circulated claiming that the Spanish Government had neglected national railway safety by prioritising investment in infrastructure projects in other countries, such as Morocco and Egypt.
Immigration also continued to occupy a central place in disinformation narratives. The report identifies a significant circulation of content linking migrants to rising crime rates, pressure on public services and the alleged existence of social benefits available exclusively to foreign nationals. Among the most widely shared cases were videos falsely presented as showing Muslims attacking Christmas markets in Germany, claims that Christmas celebrations had been banned in order to avoid offending Islamic communities, and content suggesting that migrants received preferential treatment compared with Portuguese citizens.
The report highlights that immigration remains one of the issues most susceptible to information manipulation, precisely because of its ability to generate strong emotional reactions and high levels of engagement on digital platforms.
One of the most concerning aspects identified by the researchers is the growing role of artificial intelligence in the production and dissemination of disinformation. During the period analysed, AI was widely used to create fake images relating to international political events, geopolitical conflicts and public figures.
The report concludes that disinformation linked to electoral processes, immigration and AI-generated content is likely to remain one of the principal threats to the digital public sphere in the years ahead.
This document provides a summary of the analyses of disinformation content carried out by the fact-checkers associated with the IBERIFIER project.
