AI Invades American Countryside, Europe Resists

AI Invades American Campaigns, Europe Resists

Republican and Democratic campaigns in the United States now rely on AI at almost every step, from opponent research to micro-targeting voters, according to a report from the New York Times. However, this technology remains a political minefield, and Europe is taking a very different approach.

In Pennsylvania's highly contested 10th congressional district, 29-year-old Alex Bond recently told two field agents from the Democratic group Swing Left that he thought AI was "terrible." What he didn't know was that his comments had subsequently been processed by an AI-powered application that synthesizes hundreds of similar conversations and provides actionable insights to the campaign. "Everything a person says is a data point," said Violet Kopp, the organization's director at Swing Left, in an interview with the New York Times.

The NYT report depicts a profound shift in American campaigns. According to a survey by the newsletter Anchor Change, 87% of campaign strategists now use AI daily. Beyond the visible layer of AI-generated images and videos, campaign officials have integrated this technology into nearly every workflow. They analyze voter data, produce campaign materials, and craft tailored messages for micro-segments of the electorate. The Democratic opposition research group American Bridge 21st Century has used AI to fact-check around 250 Republican candidates, according to the report.

Both Parties Embrace AI, but Under Different Rules

Despite the rise of AI, it remains a political risk, according to the New York Times. Polls show that Democratic voters are more skeptical of this technology than Republicans. Progressive groups report angry emails regarding the use of AI, and unionized employees are concerned about their jobs. Republican strategists, on the other hand, face less internal resistance.

"If voters don't like AI, they don't want to know that their candidate's campaign is using AI to write emails or create press releases or edit videos. So, you just won't see people bragging about it. But it's happening," said Republican strategist Eric Wilson, director of the Center for Campaign Innovation, to the New York Times. Wilson believes that AI-generated videos of opponents are acceptable as long as they reflect real statements. The National Democratic Training Committee, however, rejects this type of content as it "undermines democratic discourse and voter trust," according to the report.

Republicans rely more on privately funded companies, while Democrats prefer nonprofit models, according to the NYT. The hesitation among Democrats could slow adoption and give Republicans an advantage in tight races. The November midterm elections are widely seen as a test for AI strategies that will shape the 2028 presidential campaign.

AI Campaign Rules in Europe Are Stricter

While American campaigns integrate AI into their operations with little regulation, the EU bets on transparency and data protection requirements. Starting in October 2025, new rules for political advertising will apply across the EU. Political ads must be clearly labeled and disclose, among other things, who funded them, which election they target, and how much money was spent. Political targeting requires explicit and separate consent from the individuals concerned. Sensitive data such as political opinions or ethnic origin cannot be used for profiling.

The AI Act will also be important for future campaigns. Transparency requirements for generative AI will come into effect on August 2, 2026. After this date, deepfakes and AI-generated or manipulated texts on public interest topics will need to be clearly labeled in key cases. The European Commission published a voluntary code of practice for labeling AI-generated content in June 2026.

AI was already present in the 2025 German federal election campaign, albeit to a lesser extent than in the United States. According to ZDFheute, parties used AI for tasks such as text writing, image editing, data analysis, and social media management. The CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, deployed an AI bot named "Conrad" to help staff write press releases and social media posts. The SPD, the Greens, and the Left Party designated AI as a writing tool, while the FDP and the Left Party used it for image editing. The AfD used it for selected graphics and video clips.

In Germany, self-regulation has also played a more explicit role. In December 2024, the CDU, CSU, SPD, Greens, FDP, and Left Party signed a fair play agreement. They committed to clearly labeling AI-generated images, videos, and audio, and promised not to use deepfake technology to make opponents say things.

The AfD and BSW did not sign this agreement. The AfD was classified by the German domestic intelligence agency in May 2025 as a "confirmed right-wing extremist" organization, although this classification was temporarily suspended pending a final court decision. The BSW, a left-wing populist party, combines leftist economic policies with a restrictive stance on immigration and a foreign policy opposing arms deliveries to Ukraine, calling for negotiations with Russia and strongly criticizing NATO.