Hybrid Election Integrity Observatory
Free & Fair Elections
We protect the integrity of democratic elections
What interference we are monitoring
We’re interested in inauthentic and coordinated manipulation efforts on social media. These include:
Coordinated troll networks
We’re tracking the use of inauthentic accounts that artificially boost political content.
Recommender algorithm manipulation
We’re analysing feeds, trending topics, hashtags, and search results to identify manipulation or unfair biases in recommender systems.
AI-generated manipulated content
We’re tracking the use of artificial intelligence to create content and accounts by politicians, parties, commentators and anonymous actors.
Live streamed political spaces
We’re monitoring political livestreams for platform policy violations and report to platforms and authorities.
Political influencer marketing
We’re tracking undisclosed political advertising through influencer marketing platforms.
Anomalies
We’re investigating whatever looks unusual when it comes to political campaigning online.
Final report: elections were under threat, immediate action required
The Netherlands held general elections on October 29th 2025. Our consortium of researchers and civil society organisations tracked digital threats to election integrity.
We exposed troll armies, malicious use of Generative AI (GenAI) content, dubious political advertising, recommendations of extremism, disinformation on election fraud, platform moderation failure and other threats to election integrity.
Our alerts already led to immediate action from political actors, platforms, government and parliamentarians.
More work is needed to improve accountability, transparency and allow for better monitoring.
Upcoming municipal elections
As municipal elections are scheduled for March 18th 2026. Post-X Society is setting up a new observatory.
HEIO in the Dutch media
- Interference in Dutch elections part of cross-border influence operation
- Volkskrant: AI duikt overal op in verkiezingscampagnes, PVV weer grootgebruiker
- WNL op Zondag: “Dit is niet normaal”
- FD: Buitenlandse trollen mengen zich in Nederlandse verkiezingen
- NOS: Zorgen over trollenlegers en andere inmenging rond verkiezingen
- NOS: Meta’s verbod op politieke reclame werkt niet, partijen adverteren gewoon door
- Volkskrant: TikTok, Meta en Google botsen met Kamer en experts
- Binnenlands Bestuur: Helft gemeenten geraakt door desinformatie, zorgen over verkiezingen
- NRC: Brandende vluchtelingen en verheerlijking van Hitler? TikTok ziet geen problemen
- EUobserver: AI-driven digital manipulation ‘tested’ Dutch election integrity, researchers warn
- RTL Nieuws: Trollenlegers uit buitenland versterkten politieke en opruiende berichten rond verkiezingen
- NRC: Filmpje met mishandeling Timmermans populair op TikTok
- Rathenau Verrekijkers: De macht van algoritmes in verkiezingstijd
- Radio 1 Vroeg: De invloed van in- en externe factoren op de verkiezingen
- Follow The Money: D66-leider Jetten met de dood bedreigd op TikTok, bedrijf laks met ingrijpen
- EenVandaag: Hoe mensen met nepbeelden op TikTok worden aangemoedigd te demonstreren tegen immigratie
- Argos: Is ons kiesstelsel bestand tegen Trumpiaanse toestanden?
- De Groene: Vanuit de PVV-fractie worden in het geheim met AI racistische ideeën gepromoot
- NRC: TikTok bezorgt extreemrechtse livestreamers extra publiek om winst te vergroten
Who we are
The Hybrid Election Integrity Observatory brings together:
- Post-X Society (coordinator)
- University of Amsterdam
- Trollrensics
- AI Forensics
We share findings in real-time through various channels and report violations to those affected, platforms, Dutch and European authorities.
How you can help
Have you noticed:
- Unusual AI-generated political content?
- Coordinated posting, liking or commenting patterns?
- Suspicious accounts flooding political discussions?
- Undisclosed political influencer campaigns
Send us leads: