LLM-Based Adversarial Persuasion Attacks on Fact-Checking Systems

Abstract:Automated fact-checking (AFC) systems are susceptible to adversarial attacks, enabling false claims to evade detection. Existing adversarial frameworks typically rely on injecting noise or altering semantics, yet no existing framework exploits the adversarial potential of persuasion techniques against AFC systems, which are widely used in disinformation campaigns to manipulate audiences. In this paper, we introduce a novel class of persuasive adversarial attacks on AFCs by employing an LLM to rephrase claims using persuasion techniques. Considering $15$ techniques grouped into $5$ categories, we study the effects of persuasion on both claim verification and evidence retrieval using a decoupled evaluation strategy. Experiments on the FEVER and FEVEROUS benchmarks show that persuasion attacks can substantially degrade both verification performance and evidence retrieval. Our analysis identifies persuasion techniques as a potent class of adversarial attacks, highlighting the need for more robust AFC systems.

Computation and Language (cs.CL); Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI); Machine Learning (cs.LG)

arXiv:2601.16890 [cs.CL]

(or arXiv:2601.16890v2 [cs.CL] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2601.16890 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite

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