Fabio Votta📊🐧
@favstats.eu
Computational Communication Scientist #rstats | Postdoc Researcher | University of Amsterdam | @ascor.bsky.social | @algosoc.org | Blog: favstats.eu | Running on plant-based fuel 🌱 | he/him
"No" Ned said with sadness in his voice. "Now it ends.'
November 5, 2025 at 6:40 AM
"No" Ned said with sadness in his voice. "Now it ends.'
October 31, 2025 at 8:14 AM
I have always exaggerated with dashboards, but this 🇳🇱 Dutch election campaign I did not make 1, I did not make 2, but I made 3 dashboards 😅
1. tracking the use of AI (campaigntracker.nl/en)
2. tracking campaign spending (lnkd.in/eUKgeV9V)
3. tracking targeting on Meta (lnkd.in/eXrp454E)
#tk2025
1. tracking the use of AI (campaigntracker.nl/en)
2. tracking campaign spending (lnkd.in/eUKgeV9V)
3. tracking targeting on Meta (lnkd.in/eXrp454E)
#tk2025
October 29, 2025 at 12:08 PM
I have always exaggerated with dashboards, but this 🇳🇱 Dutch election campaign I did not make 1, I did not make 2, but I made 3 dashboards 😅
1. tracking the use of AI (campaigntracker.nl/en)
2. tracking campaign spending (lnkd.in/eUKgeV9V)
3. tracking targeting on Meta (lnkd.in/eXrp454E)
#tk2025
1. tracking the use of AI (campaigntracker.nl/en)
2. tracking campaign spending (lnkd.in/eUKgeV9V)
3. tracking targeting on Meta (lnkd.in/eXrp454E)
#tk2025
🚨 CampAIgn Tracker Update: we now identify 584 AI posts found in our campaign monitoring. 60% from far-right accounts, mainly PVV MPs' "Geen Aangifte" page (now, ironically, facing charges). We find: AI was more succesful on Facebook but flopped elsewhere. #tk2025
🇬🇧: campaigntracker.nl/en
🇬🇧: campaigntracker.nl/en
October 29, 2025 at 9:50 AM
🚨 CampAIgn Tracker Update: we now identify 584 AI posts found in our campaign monitoring. 60% from far-right accounts, mainly PVV MPs' "Geen Aangifte" page (now, ironically, facing charges). We find: AI was more succesful on Facebook but flopped elsewhere. #tk2025
🇬🇧: campaigntracker.nl/en
🇬🇧: campaigntracker.nl/en
Guess who is on national TV tonight
October 27, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Guess who is on national TV tonight
I think this Facebook page is a terrifying case study in how gen AI slop has enabled the creation of an automated hate machine, churning out endless caricatures of made-up enemies, immigrants and politicians, optimized for engagement. In many ways, it embodied the very nightmare many of us feared.
October 27, 2025 at 7:59 AM
I think this Facebook page is a terrifying case study in how gen AI slop has enabled the creation of an automated hate machine, churning out endless caricatures of made-up enemies, immigrants and politicians, optimized for engagement. In many ways, it embodied the very nightmare many of us feared.
The Facebook page behind these images was the most active spreader of political AI content, posting multiple times a day and becoming the most engaged-with pages on Facebook among all those we track. Even surpassing Geert Wilders in total engagement during October. The page has now been deleted.
October 27, 2025 at 7:32 AM
The Facebook page behind these images was the most active spreader of political AI content, posting multiple times a day and becoming the most engaged-with pages on Facebook among all those we track. Even surpassing Geert Wilders in total engagement during October. The page has now been deleted.
In conclusion, while AI use in politics remains limited, smaller parties, right-leaning, and satirical networks lead adoption. Importantly, the lack of transparency labels & use of deepfakes do raise concerns about voter manipulation.
See more:
🇬🇧 campaigntracker.nl/en
🇳🇱 campaigntracker.nl
#tk2025
See more:
🇬🇧 campaigntracker.nl/en
🇳🇱 campaigntracker.nl
#tk2025
October 23, 2025 at 9:36 AM
In conclusion, while AI use in politics remains limited, smaller parties, right-leaning, and satirical networks lead adoption. Importantly, the lack of transparency labels & use of deepfakes do raise concerns about voter manipulation.
See more:
🇬🇧 campaigntracker.nl/en
🇳🇱 campaigntracker.nl
#tk2025
See more:
🇬🇧 campaigntracker.nl/en
🇳🇱 campaigntracker.nl
#tk2025
Ordinary people appear most often in AI content (239 posts). Politicians are also deepfaked: especially Geert Wilders, mostly shown in a positive light.
Parties and politicians in general use AI mainly for positive posts and GOTV purposes, while other actors use it negatively, often on migration.
Parties and politicians in general use AI mainly for positive posts and GOTV purposes, while other actors use it negatively, often on migration.
October 23, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Ordinary people appear most often in AI content (239 posts). Politicians are also deepfaked: especially Geert Wilders, mostly shown in a positive light.
Parties and politicians in general use AI mainly for positive posts and GOTV purposes, while other actors use it negatively, often on migration.
Parties and politicians in general use AI mainly for positive posts and GOTV purposes, while other actors use it negatively, often on migration.
We found 404 AI-generated visuals (~2% of posts). Pro-right (party) accounts make up the largest share, with PVV-linked accounts leading (120).
Small parties like Vrede voor Dieren (18%), 50PLUS (17%) also use AI more often.
Worryingly, 61% lack proper labeling and are not identified as AI.
Small parties like Vrede voor Dieren (18%), 50PLUS (17%) also use AI more often.
Worryingly, 61% lack proper labeling and are not identified as AI.
October 23, 2025 at 9:36 AM
We found 404 AI-generated visuals (~2% of posts). Pro-right (party) accounts make up the largest share, with PVV-linked accounts leading (120).
Small parties like Vrede voor Dieren (18%), 50PLUS (17%) also use AI more often.
Worryingly, 61% lack proper labeling and are not identified as AI.
Small parties like Vrede voor Dieren (18%), 50PLUS (17%) also use AI more often.
Worryingly, 61% lack proper labeling and are not identified as AI.
🤖 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐀𝐈𝐠𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 🇳🇱
Less than one week before the Dutch elections, @meinungsfuehrer.bsky.social & I looked at over 20k posts to reveal patterns in the usage of AI-generated visuals across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X. #tk2025
🧵Thread
Less than one week before the Dutch elections, @meinungsfuehrer.bsky.social & I looked at over 20k posts to reveal patterns in the usage of AI-generated visuals across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X. #tk2025
🧵Thread
October 23, 2025 at 9:36 AM
🤖 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐀𝐈𝐠𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 🇳🇱
Less than one week before the Dutch elections, @meinungsfuehrer.bsky.social & I looked at over 20k posts to reveal patterns in the usage of AI-generated visuals across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X. #tk2025
🧵Thread
Less than one week before the Dutch elections, @meinungsfuehrer.bsky.social & I looked at over 20k posts to reveal patterns in the usage of AI-generated visuals across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X. #tk2025
🧵Thread
It's probably supposed to be AI-generated Pim Fortuyn but looks like Jeff Bezos to me.
October 14, 2025 at 6:11 AM
It's probably supposed to be AI-generated Pim Fortuyn but looks like Jeff Bezos to me.
If you ever wanted to delve into the AI-generated world of far-right imagination.. now you can.
See our CampAIgn Tracker 🇳🇱 here:
www.campaigntracker.nl/en/
#tk2025
See our CampAIgn Tracker 🇳🇱 here:
www.campaigntracker.nl/en/
#tk2025
October 11, 2025 at 9:08 AM
If you ever wanted to delve into the AI-generated world of far-right imagination.. now you can.
See our CampAIgn Tracker 🇳🇱 here:
www.campaigntracker.nl/en/
#tk2025
See our CampAIgn Tracker 🇳🇱 here:
www.campaigntracker.nl/en/
#tk2025
🚀 And this marks our launch of the CampAIgn Tracker 🇳🇱!
@meinungsfuehrer.bsky.social and I are glad to finally publish our dashboard where we monitor the use of AI imagery in campaign messages, by parties, politicians & other actors during the election #tk2025
See here
www.campaigntracker.nl/en/
@meinungsfuehrer.bsky.social and I are glad to finally publish our dashboard where we monitor the use of AI imagery in campaign messages, by parties, politicians & other actors during the election #tk2025
See here
www.campaigntracker.nl/en/
October 11, 2025 at 8:39 AM
🚀 And this marks our launch of the CampAIgn Tracker 🇳🇱!
@meinungsfuehrer.bsky.social and I are glad to finally publish our dashboard where we monitor the use of AI imagery in campaign messages, by parties, politicians & other actors during the election #tk2025
See here
www.campaigntracker.nl/en/
@meinungsfuehrer.bsky.social and I are glad to finally publish our dashboard where we monitor the use of AI imagery in campaign messages, by parties, politicians & other actors during the election #tk2025
See here
www.campaigntracker.nl/en/
Fortunately, metatargetr has already archived two years of global political ad spending and targeting data on Meta, at least making historical analysis possible for the future.
You can check it out here: github.com/favstats/met....
You can check it out here: github.com/favstats/met....
October 2, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Fortunately, metatargetr has already archived two years of global political ad spending and targeting data on Meta, at least making historical analysis possible for the future.
You can check it out here: github.com/favstats/met....
You can check it out here: github.com/favstats/met....
Front page of @lechobe.bsky.social today: one of the last live looks at political ad spending in Europe, powered by metatargetr.
With Meta’s upcoming ban, paid political ads in the digital sphere will vanish from view.. but it will not spell the end of paid political influence.
lnkd.in/ephiha3S
With Meta’s upcoming ban, paid political ads in the digital sphere will vanish from view.. but it will not spell the end of paid political influence.
lnkd.in/ephiha3S
October 2, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Front page of @lechobe.bsky.social today: one of the last live looks at political ad spending in Europe, powered by metatargetr.
With Meta’s upcoming ban, paid political ads in the digital sphere will vanish from view.. but it will not spell the end of paid political influence.
lnkd.in/ephiha3S
With Meta’s upcoming ban, paid political ads in the digital sphere will vanish from view.. but it will not spell the end of paid political influence.
lnkd.in/ephiha3S
the comments are as disgusting as you can imagine
September 29, 2025 at 5:59 PM
the comments are as disgusting as you can imagine
Some fresh hell: a TikTok account that just posts AI videos of sinking ships full of people.
September 29, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Some fresh hell: a TikTok account that just posts AI videos of sinking ships full of people.
Ten years ago, I took part in NMUN. After visiting the General Assembly Hall, I uploaded this image with the caption: “We either learn to swim together or we drown separately.”
Today, I mourn that we seem to be on the exact opposite trajectory from what I had hoped for.
Today, I mourn that we seem to be on the exact opposite trajectory from what I had hoped for.
September 23, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Ten years ago, I took part in NMUN. After visiting the General Assembly Hall, I uploaded this image with the caption: “We either learn to swim together or we drown separately.”
Today, I mourn that we seem to be on the exact opposite trajectory from what I had hoped for.
Today, I mourn that we seem to be on the exact opposite trajectory from what I had hoped for.
Curious about more breakdowns on TARGETING during #TK25? Best to consult this dashboard:
favstats.github.io/nl25/targeti...
favstats.github.io/nl25/targeti...
September 21, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Curious about more breakdowns on TARGETING during #TK25? Best to consult this dashboard:
favstats.github.io/nl25/targeti...
favstats.github.io/nl25/targeti...
Despite the fact that Meta is poised to ban political ads on their platforms by October 10th, Dutch parties are ramping up spending, about 160k Euro in past 30 days 🇳🇱
As always I will be tracking targeting (w/ @whotargets.me) as long as ads run.
Ex.: D66 is heavily trying to reach younger people!
As always I will be tracking targeting (w/ @whotargets.me) as long as ads run.
Ex.: D66 is heavily trying to reach younger people!
September 21, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Despite the fact that Meta is poised to ban political ads on their platforms by October 10th, Dutch parties are ramping up spending, about 160k Euro in past 30 days 🇳🇱
As always I will be tracking targeting (w/ @whotargets.me) as long as ads run.
Ex.: D66 is heavily trying to reach younger people!
As always I will be tracking targeting (w/ @whotargets.me) as long as ads run.
Ex.: D66 is heavily trying to reach younger people!
Great to see this out! With @bsky.charispapaevangelou.eu we analyse the DSA “Statement of Reasons” database, the EU-mandated archive of moderation decisions by online platforms. We examine what kind of platform observability the database affords & find large regional and cross-platform differences.
September 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Great to see this out! With @bsky.charispapaevangelou.eu we analyse the DSA “Statement of Reasons” database, the EU-mandated archive of moderation decisions by online platforms. We examine what kind of platform observability the database affords & find large regional and cross-platform differences.
Is this the first time ever that Donald Trump publicly labeled something that he attempted to do was a failure?
September 15, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Is this the first time ever that Donald Trump publicly labeled something that he attempted to do was a failure?
up - right - down - down - down. the arrows are possibly a reference to the game Helldivers 2 where you can call an airstrike with that combination.
September 12, 2025 at 3:08 PM
up - right - down - down - down. the arrows are possibly a reference to the game Helldivers 2 where you can call an airstrike with that combination.