The upcoming 2024 Mexican general election is pivotal, potentially electing the first female president and being the largest election in the nation's history. Over 20,000 positions will be contested amidst unprecedented political violence and digital misinformation. This briefing explores the roles of domestic and foreign misinformation (MDM), assesses corporate risks, and provides strategies for mitigating these challenges.
Challenges and Threats:
- Election Violence: Record-high election-related violence fueled by drug cartels.
- Digital Misinformation: Exploitation of social media by domestic politicians, foreign nations, and criminal groups to sway public opinion and election outcomes.
Industry Impacts:
- Corporate Risk: Elections pose significant regulatory, market, and operational risks. MDM exacerbates these through trust erosion and polarization, affecting voter behavior and corporate stability.
- Physical and Social Unrest: Civil unrest can lead to direct impacts on corporate operations, such as closed businesses, unreliable sales, and disrupted supply chains.
Strategic Recommendations:
- Implement Advanced AI Tools: Analyze and predict election-related narratives by
- using cognitive AI tools and geopolitical analysts to inform strategic decision-making.
- Establish an MDM monitoring team: Create a specialized team to monitor and address emerging MDM threats using scenario planning and crisis simulation.
- Strategic Stakeholder Engagement: Foster collaboration with credible media sources and organizations to counteract the influence of disinformation.
This brief emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to navigate the intertwined challenges of political instability and misinformation, ensuring corporate readiness and societal stability.