Cyabra Exposes Coordinated Disinformation Campaign Targeting Portugal’s Election
Cyabra, a leading AI-powered disinformation detection platform, has unveiled a sophisticated manipulation campaign aimed at influencing Portugal’s recent general election. Their investigation, “Fake Voices, Real Votes,” reveals how networks of fake social media profiles and bots were deployed to sway public opinion and bolster support for the far-right Chega party while simultaneously discrediting its rivals. The findings, prominently featured by CNN Portugal, expose a concerning trend of online manipulation tactics increasingly employed to disrupt democratic processes. Cyabra’s analysis, covering the period from April 14 to May 14, 2025, demonstrated a concerted effort to artificially inflate Chega’s online presence and disseminate damaging narratives against opposition parties.
The report’s key findings highlight the extent of the manipulation. A staggering 58% of accounts interacting with Chega’s official X (formerly Twitter) account were identified as fake, creating a false impression of widespread public support. Similarly, nearly half (49%) of the profiles engaging with posts from the Socialist (PS) and Social Democratic (PSD) parties were also inauthentic. These fake accounts orchestrated attacks against opposition leaders, including Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos and PSD’s Luís Montenegro, while simultaneously promoting Chega within the same online discussions. This coordinated strategy involved spreading conspiracy theories, amplifying economic anxieties, and disseminating anti-immigration rhetoric.
The investigation further revealed that many of these fake accounts were involved in cross-campaign promotion, attacking rival parties while simultaneously praising Chega. This behavior provided strong evidence of a coordinated and deliberate effort to manipulate public perception during a critical election period. Cyabra CEO and Co-founder Dan Brahmy characterized the situation as a "masterclass in modern influence operations," emphasizing the deliberate and strategic nature of the campaign to undermine democratic institutions and manipulate voters.
The Portugal election analysis underscores Cyabra’s growing role in combating disinformation and protecting democratic processes worldwide. In 2024, a pivotal year for elections globally, Cyabra supported 19 democracies in monitoring and safeguarding their elections against online manipulation. The company’s AI-powered platform offers real-time detection and analysis of disinformation and misinformation by identifying fake profiles, harmful narratives, and generative AI-created content across social media and digital news channels.
Beyond election protection, Cyabra’s solutions also protect corporations and governments against a wider range of online threats, including reputational damage, foreign interference, and the spread of harmful content. Their proprietary algorithms and Natural Language Processing (NLP) solutions analyze publicly available data to provide actionable insights and real-time alerts, empowering organizations to make informed decisions based on accurate information. Cyabra’s capabilities span identifying fake accounts, analyzing online narratives, and detecting generative AI-created content, providing a comprehensive approach to understanding and mitigating online threats.
In a significant development for the company, Cyabra has entered into a business combination agreement with Trailblazer Merger Corp. (TBMC), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). This merger signifies a crucial step in Cyabra’s growth trajectory and will likely provide the company with additional resources to further develop its technology and expand its reach in the fight against online disinformation. Further details about the merger, including investor information and forward-looking statements, are available in the official press release and associated SEC filings. This merger, coupled with Cyabra’s partnership with Global Vector Group, positions the company for continued growth and innovation in the fight against disinformation. Investors and stakeholders are encouraged to consult these documents for comprehensive information about the transaction and its potential implications. The proposed merger, once finalized, promises to enhance Cyabra’s ability to combat online disinformation and protect democratic institutions and processes globally.