Sweden is strengthening efforts to detect foreign information influence and coordinated attempts to manipulate political debate ahead of its general election. Authorities are focusing on how artificial intelligence and social media are changing the creation, distribution and amplification of political messages.

The government said greater resilience is needed because of the current security environment, rapid technological developments and lessons from elections elsewhere in Europe.

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AI Network Shows How Influence Tactics Are Evolving

The Swedish Psychological Defence Agency last week reported a partly AI-powered network of about 1,200 fake accounts on X known as Holiday. The network generated more than 50,000 posts, comments and shares during 2025 and 2026 and was used for malign influence targeting Sweden and other countries.

Sweden’s central bank first identified the accounts after employees took part in an agency exercise, and X later removed the network. Holiday has not been directly linked to this year’s election, but authorities released the findings ahead of the vote to highlight emerging tactics.

TikTok And AI Change How Voters Get Information

One in 10 Swedes uses AI services to ask questions about politics or social issues, according to an April report from Sweden’s Internet Foundation. Among first-time voters, the share rises to one in four.

Recommendation systems can amplify sensational or emotionally charged content because it generates stronger engagement. Generative AI also allows networks to produce large volumes of material across multiple accounts at relatively low cost.

In February, Swedish public radio identified four TikTok accounts featuring AI-generated young women that promoted far-right and anti-immigration messages. The broadcaster found indications that the accounts were operated by the same actor.

Authorities Monitor Rising Online Activity

A Swedish Psychological Defence Agency poll found that 64% of adults believe foreign attempts to influence Sweden this year are very or quite likely. Meanwhile, the Swedish Defence Research Agency said election-related posts increased from about 1,000 a day to almost 2,400 shortly before early voting began.

Researchers have detected coordinated posting, identical content and fake accounts, but said the scale remains limited. So far, they have not attributed the activity to an organized foreign campaign.

Migration Remains A Key Disinformation Target

Migration-related narratives remain a particular focus because they have featured prominently in Russian disinformation efforts. Researchers have monitored claims that Sweden is being “Islamified,” that migrants were brought in to support left-wing parties and that electoral fraud is taking place.

“When we look at the topics that Russia has been pushing before, this is outgrowing every other topic, even support for Ukraine,” said Ola Svenonius, a senior researcher at the Swedish Defence Research Agency.

Despite these narratives, Sweden is not currently considered a priority target for Russian information influence by the Swedish Psychological Defence Agency. Svenonius said Moscow may instead focus on other elections, including German state contests.

Sweden Builds On Lessons From Earlier Elections

Authorities say Sweden is now better prepared to identify suspicious activity than during previous election cycles. Svenonius, who has monitored the country’s election information environment since 2018, said institutional awareness has also improved.

“We should be concerned,” he said. “We shouldn’t be panicked, but concerned for sure.”