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Original article: En pleno caso Cerimedo: 62% cree que los bots tienen fuerte presencia en elecciones y 59% que influyen en el voto

Majority of Chileans Believe Bots Play Significant Role in Elections Amid Cerimedo Scandal

Amid the controversy and warnings in Chile regarding the case of Argentine consultant, Fernando Cerimedo, known as the «king of trolls,» a recent Criteria Agenda survey reveals that 62% of respondents believe bots have a strong presence in elections, while 59% think they influence voting decisions.

The name of the far-right political operator has been at the center of national public attention following his arrest in Bolivia on August 18, where he currently faces four charges including attempted femicide against his ex-partner Nadia Beller; money laundering; domestic violence; and alleged involvement in drug trafficking flights. However, his connections to Chile and more conservative sectors are well established.

In 2023, Cerimedo himself claimed in an interview with the Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism (CLIP) that a group of businesspeople hired him to work on the campaign against a proposed new Constitution, successfully mobilizing 52 civil associations, though he did not specify which ones or his exact role.

In fact, through a company called Numen Spa, founded in Chile by lawyer Enrique José García Arancibia, the consultant was engaged in 2020 by the so-called «Common House,» a command opposing the proposal, where he collaborated with current Director of Communications (Secom), Felipe Costabal, and Alejandro Irarrázaval, head of advisors of La Moneda’s Second Floor. During this time, he developed questionable methodologies and dubious results, while also spreading false information, claiming that the draft from the Constitutional Convention would mean «The end of home ownership.»

In statements to Infobae, the operator admitted to creating 50,000 artificial accounts operating in Argentina, as well as others used in Chile, highlighting his capacity to manage large-scale disinformation networks to position content on social media. This was evidenced during a raid on one of his residences in La Paz where authorities uncovered a «mini bot farm,» created for figures from the far-right such as Javier Milei in Argentina, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil; Rodrigo Paz in Bolivia, and Nasry Asfura in Honduras.

Revelations about Cerimedo’s involvement in Chile deepened following statements from his ex-partner Nadia Beller, who told Radio Biobío that the consultant boasted about his role in José Antonio Kast’s presidential campaign.

«I’m absolutely sure he worked with Kast’s team, as he often bragged about making a new president,» Beller asserted, directly linking the consultant to the current leader.

This caused the case to gain institutional relevance in our country, leading the Chamber of Deputies to approve the creation of the Cerimedo Commission to investigate the extent of his influence and networks in the country, public opinion manipulation in elections and plebiscites, as well as the consultant’s ties to Kast’s camp, while the Centro Norte Prosecutor’s Office opened a criminal investigation.

62% Believe Bots Have Strong Presence in Elections

In this context, the latest Criteria Agenda survey, conducted on September 6, asked 811 women and men aged 18 and older, from socio-economic levels ABCD and residing across the country, the following question: How much presence do you think bots have in political discussions on social media during election periods?

62% responded that they believe bots have a significant presence; 17% said they think they have little to no presence, while 21% indicated they were unsure.

Among left-leaning respondents, 86% believe bots have a strong presence. This sentiment is echoed by 71% of centrists and 50% of those leaning towards the right.

The Criteria Agenda also asked: How much influence do you believe bots have in political discussions on social media during election periods? In response, 59% said they think bots have a lot or significant influence; 24% chose the option of little to no influence, while 17% were uncertain.

88% of respondents identified with the left believe bots have significant influence. This perspective is shared by 58% of centrists and 43% of those who lean towards the right.

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