Former Colombian president Gustavo Petro raised concerns about the use of digital technology in elections in Mexico and Brazil during his visit to Mexico City on August 31. His comments, which criticize the use of algorithms and bots, highlight his worries about the integrity of electoral processes in the region.
Petro made these remarks at a conference at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where he warned that tools such as algorithms and bots could influence the general elections in Brazil and the midterm elections in Mexico in 2027. During his term, Petro had already denounced electoral fraud in the elections that led to Abelardo de la Espriella’s presidency, commenting that his successor benefitted from alleged digital intervention without presenting evidence during his speech.
The former president mentioned that a network of two million bots would have manipulated public debate in Colombia, favoring De la Espriella. Additionally, he linked his accusation to the knowledge of the U.S. State Department, although he did not provide concrete details regarding this claim.
“Mexico is in danger and Brazil is coming,” was one of the warnings he issued to a mostly student audience. Petro stated that the phenomenon of misuse of technology could extend not only to his country but also to others in Latin America such as Peru and Chile, calling into question the legitimacy of upcoming elections in those places.
The former head of state also reiterated his support for Senator Iván Cepeda as a continuator of his political legacy, emphasizing his intention to keep his legacy alive despite the recent government transition in Colombia. His visit to Mexico included meetings with political leaders and a call for reflection on the impact of digital platforms on public opinion.
Moreover, Petro took the opportunity to present his book Political Economy of the Climate Crisis, where he criticizes the neoliberal economic model and warns about the challenges of climate change. In his conference, he also directed criticism towards major tech companies such as Meta and SpaceX, linking their power to the manipulation of political information.
Source: www.infobae.com
