Taiwan's president is warning that fake news and foreign influence operations will intensify as the island's local elections approach — a defensive message aimed at voters and his own party.

• Lai Ching-te told DPP officials and candidates to brace for a wave of false information in the final stretch before the vote, now 52 days away.
• He pointed to foreign actors using AI-generated fake audio and video, fake polls, and rumors of vote-rigging spread by armies of fake accounts.
• The deeper worry is trust: if people stop believing elections are fair, turnout and faith in Taiwan's democracy erode, not just one party's chances.
• Candidates were told not to take the bait — check facts fast, respond quickly, and keep the campaign on policy instead of personal attacks.

Outlook: Expect disinformation claims and counterclaims to dominate the closing weeks of Taiwan's campaign, with Beijing-linked influence efforts the main suspect.