BIG TECHS, FAR RIGHT AND DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH AMERICA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS IN THE 2025 ELECTIONS IN ARGENTINA AND CHILE

Abstract

This article investigates the association between access to digital platforms (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter) and the electoral performance of far-right can- didates in the 2025 elections in Argentina (October) and Chile (December). The research seeks to answer two central questions: (i) is there a correlation between exposure to di- gital platforms and voting for far-right candidates in these countries? (ii) Is this pattern homogeneous or does it vary according to the local socio-political context? The study combines a literature review on political financing by big techs, algorithmic bias, and rentier capitalism with an empirical analysis based on the k-means clustering technique. It uses official voting data at the subnational level (16 regions in Chile, 14 provinces in Argentina) and digital consumption metrics (mobile data traffic, declared platform pre- ference, internet penetration). The results indicate distinct patterns in the two countries: in Chile, the far-right vote is concentrated in regions with high audiovisual consumption (TikTok, YouTube) and where pre-existing territorial conflicts exist (La Araucanía, Bio- bío), suggesting a role in amplifying local cleavages; in Argentina, it is associated with areas of high connectivity and informational fragmentation (CABA, Córdoba, Mendoza), where YouTube and Instagram acted as channels for ideological conversion among urban middle classes. We conclude that the influence of platforms is mediated by local socio- political contexts, not operating homogeneously. The findings contribute to the debate on platform regulation, algorithmic transparency, and digital interference in democratic processes in Latin America, reinforcing the need for public policies adapted to regional realities.