As the US presidential election approaches, a British media report claims some users on X are spreading election misinformation, AI-generated images, and conspiracy theories while receiving “thousands of dollars” from the platform Elon Musk owns.
The election, set for November 5, 2024, will see Republican Donald Trump running against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden decided not to seek reelection.
The BBC report identified networks of X accounts sharing “a mix of true, false, and fabricated content” to increase their reach and revenue on the platform. Several users reported earning between hundreds to thousands of dollars. These accounts often share each other’s posts through forums and group chats to help boost engagement. Some networks support Trump, others support Harris, and some back independent candidates.
The report also claimed that some US politicians, including congressional candidates, have contacted these profiles, though they claim to operate independently from official campaigns.
This month, X updated its creator payments policy, calculating payments based on engagement from premium users rather than ad revenue. Although X has a smaller user base than platforms like Facebook or TikTok, its influence on political discourse raises concerns about incentivizing provocative claims.
Among the misinformation, posts include claims of election fraud and extreme, unfounded accusations of paedophilia and abuse against candidates. Some misleading posts originating on X have been widely shared across other platforms, potentially amplifying their impact.
One user even admitted to creating a doctored image that falsely showed Kamala Harris working at McDonald’s in her youth. After going viral, the image led to claims that the Democratic Party was manipulating images of its candidate.
