Mexico city: Mexico's president defended the country's electoral system on Monday after Colombia's former leader warned about possible manipulation through algorithms, artificial intelligence, and social media.

According to Anadolu Agency, Claudia Sheinbaum addressed these concerns at a morning news conference, emphasizing the integrity of Mexico's electoral model. She highlighted the role of the National Electoral Institute in organizing elections and the Electoral Tribunal's responsibility for certifying results. Sheinbaum assured that Mexican citizens, selected to serve on polling station boards, are the ones who count the votes, a process differing from Colombia's. In Colombia, former President Gustavo Petro expressed concerns about the involvement of private companies in the vote-counting process.

The Mexican president acknowledged the occurrence of irregularities at polling stations, citing instances of altered electoral records and potential issues in the Preliminary Electoral Results Program. She urged authorities to identify networks financed to spread political propaganda across different countries and encouraged political parties to uphold their responsibilities during elections.

During a recent visit to Mexico, Petro warned about the use of algorithms, artificial intelligence, and social media in influencing elections. He noted the role these tools played in Colombia's presidential election and advocated for stronger political communication to counter such operations. Petro also discussed these concerns with Sheinbaum during a meeting at Mexico's National Palace last week.

Petro's claims included the use of 2 million bots to influence voting in Colombia, cautioning that Mexico could encounter similar risks from digital manipulation. Meanwhile, Colombia's electoral authorities declared Abelardo de la Espriella president-elect in June, a result recognized by the Organization of American States, which noted the acceptance of the outcome by his main rival, Ivan Cepeda.

As Mexico's next major electoral process approaches, discussions intensify over the role of digital platforms, political advertising, and AI in shaping voter opinions and influencing democratic processes.