Misinformation about electoral fraud is spread and linked to immigrants and foreign influence

Immigrants have been singled out as crucial to the opposition's win, and on social media it has been described by some as a sign of democratic decay.

- We monitor how different themes spread and in recent days the theme of election fraud has completely exploded. It was already going on before Borlänge, but it has multiplied in just a couple of days, says Ola Svenonius, who researches disinformation and psychological defense at the Total Defense Research Institute (FOI).

European debaters and alternative media use terms such as "takeover" or "invasion" and have, among other things, made connections to the conspiracy theory of a population exchange. Several American accounts draw parallels to Minnesota, where the American-Somali population has been called "garbage" by the president, among other things.

Ola Svenonius and Johannes Lindgren have previously seen that the spread took place above all on X and also Facebook and Flashback.

- But now we see that the use of language is spreading and setting an agenda even outside the platforms and then reaching wider groups, says Ola Svenonius.

Questions about the security of the electoral system have also flared up several times in recent weeks - including in connection with discussions about how voters can identify themselves and problems with early voting. After the events in Borlänge, the debate has been given a new impetus, where, among other things, civil servants and authorities are made suspect.

The idea that the Swedish electoral system cannot be trusted is more widespread after this year's election.

- That shift has been going on for a while, but now it has crossed yet another limit, says Ola Svenonius.

Will mistrust be tempered by a police investigation and the Electoral Review Board's decision?

- I don't think it will do that in this nationalist right. Distrust of the electoral system is linked to dissatisfaction with the election results, says Ola Svenonius.

The discussion about election fraud is fueled by anonymous accounts, which comment on posts from profiles with many followers.

- We see that the famous debaters are ruling and that suspected fake accounts are taking over, says Johannes Lindgren, analyst at FOI, and adds:

- We don't know what kind of accounts they are and we can't say anything for sure. But we know that a number of influence networks with connections to Russia targeted the Swedish election and I would be extremely surprised if they did not enter this debate, for them it is a jackpot.

The National Anti-Corruption Unit is investigating the crime of "improper activity during voting", with three suspects. Leftist Mohamed Abdukardir Ali, who has not been charged with any crime, denies the allegations of electoral fraud. The Electoral Review Board must decide whether a re-election is required. After this year's election, a record number of appeals have been received.

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