In the Netherlands, Prime Minister Rob Jetten and his party, D66, have stirred debate by leveraging artificial intelligence to generate numerous social media posts, including statements on politically sensitive topics. This has sparked concerns about the authenticity of these messages and the potential impact on public trust. An in-depth examination of 1,812 posts from Jetten’s and D66’s profiles on platforms such as X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn since 2021 identified that at least 232 of these posts were crafted using AI chatbots. Specifically, 68 posts originated from Jetten’s personal accounts, while the remaining 164 were from the party’s accounts.
The adoption of AI in their communications notably surged after the collapse of the Schoof I Cabinet in June 2025. From that juncture, approximately 30% of the content posted by Jetten and D66 was recognized as AI-generated. Beyond social media posts, AI also contributed to sections of Jetten’s book titled “Hoe het wél kan” and was utilized for scripting lines in three campaign videos for D66. The focus on AI-assisted posts has heightened, especially since some of them touched on delicate issues like the war in Ukraine, the remembrance of the MH17 tragedy, and the Dutch government’s apology to the Moluccan community.
D66 has acknowledged deploying AI in their communications strategy but assured that all content undergoes thorough review and refinement by their team. The party emphasized that posts appearing on Jetten’s personal accounts are grounded in his own inputs and receive his approval or are edited by him. This assertion aims to address the scrutiny over whether AI-generated material might undermine Jetten’s personal credibility.
Experts in the field have voiced concerns regarding the potential implications of this practice. Claes de Vreese, a professor at the University of Amsterdam, highlighted the challenges that AI-generated language poses in distinguishing a politician’s authentic views from computer-generated content. This issue contributes to broader discussions about transparency and the ethical use of AI in political communication, especially when it comes to the expectation that official social media accounts should accurately reflect the personal views and expressions of elected officials.