Disinformation as a Factor in the Transformation of the Political System: Quantitative Analysis and the Role of Artificial Intelligence

Vasyl Baranets; Oleksandr Korop

doi:10.31861/mediaforum.2026.18.216-233

Authors

Vasyl Baranets Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University Author https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8096-5821
Oleksandr Korop Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9545-9694

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31861/mediaforum.2026.18.216-233

Keywords:

disinformation, political system, artificial intelligence, quantitative analysis, algorithmic platforms, deepfake, LLM, political communication, information warfare, democratic institutions

Abstract

This article examines disinformation as a factor in the transformation of the political system under conditions of digitalized political communication and large-scale information confrontation. The topic is especially relevant in the contemporary security environment, where disinformation no longer functions merely as a set of misleading messages but increasingly operates as a systematic instrument for influencing public opinion, undermining trust in institutions, intensifying political polarization, and reshaping democratic processes. The study adopts an analytical approach that combines political communication analysis with quantitative methods and artificial intelligence-based tools. Particular attention is paid to the capacity of quantitative analysis to identify patterns in the production, dissemination, amplification, and reception of disinformation across digital platforms. At the same time, the article explores the dual role of artificial intelligence: on the one hand, as a technology that facilitates the generation of deepfakes, synthetic narratives, and automated influence operations; on the other hand, as an instrument for detecting manipulated content, classifying disinformation narratives, and mapping coordinated information attacks. It is argued that the combination of quantitative methods and AI significantly expands the analytical capacity of political research by enabling a more precise assessment of how disinformation affects institutional legitimacy, political participation, and the functioning of democratic systems. The article concludes that disinformation should be understood not only as a media-related challenge, but also as a structural factor capable of transforming the political system, especially in contexts of war, hybrid threats, and algorithmically mediated communication.

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Author Biographies

Vasyl Baranets, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University

Postgraduate student of the Department of International Relations and Public Communications
Oleksandr Korop, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University

Postgraduate student of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration

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