Data Protection Authority Warns: AI Chatbots Provide Biased Voting Advice
Amsterdam, dinsdag, 21 oktober 2025.
The Data Protection Authority (DPA) warns that AI chatbots provide unreliable and biased voting advice. Research shows that these bots often recommend two specific political parties, regardless of user input. The DPA advises voters to be critical and consult other information sources, especially in the run-up to the Dutch General Election on 29 October. The use of traditional voting aids such as Kieskompas and StemWijzer is recommended to obtain fairer and more reliable advice.
Research on AI Chatbots
The research by the Data Protection Authority (DPA) showed that AI chatbots frequently recommend two specific political parties, namely the PVV and GroenLinks-PvdA. In 30% of cases, the PVV was advised first, and in nearly 25% of cases, GroenLinks-PvdA. Other parties, such as the CDA, SGP, and BBB, rarely appeared in the top three, even for profiles reflecting their positions [1][2][3][4].
Problems with AI Chatbots
The DPA points out that AI chatbots are based on unverifiable data and information from the internet, which may be incorrect or outdated. This leads to biased and unreliable advice. Additionally, chatbots struggle with nuances and complex issues, leading to the underrepresentation of centrist and fringe positions in the political spectrum [2][3][4][5].
Advice from the DPA
The DPA advises voters to be critical and consult other information sources, such as traditional voting aids like Kieskompas and StemWijzer. These tools are more transparent and do not provide direct advice, allowing voters to be better informed about the positions of the parties [1][2][3][4][5].
Implications for Media Literacy and Democracy
The use of AI chatbots for voting advice can have negative consequences for media literacy and democracy. Biased advice can lead to the polarisation of the political landscape and undermine the integrity of free and fair elections. It is therefore crucial that voters are well-informed and critical of the information they receive [2][3][4][5].
Practical Tips for Readers
To identify fake news and biased voting advice, readers can follow these practical tips: 1) Consult multiple reliable information sources, 2) Check the background of information providers, 3) Look for transparency in how information is generated, 4) Compare advice from different tools and sources, 5) Read the election programmes of the parties themselves [1][2][3][4][5].