As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, foreign influence operations and AI-generated content have become central to the spread of disinformation, posing significant threats to election integrity. As we get closer and closer to November, the landscape of misinformation is more complex than ever.
“Spamouflage”
China has ramped up its influence operations in the U.S., using fake social media accounts to exploit political divisions. The “Spamouflage” network, first identified by Graphika, mimics American voters, spreading AI-generated content critical of both Democrats and Republicans. Accounts linked to this campaign have focused on divisive topics such as reproductive rights and U.S. foreign policy. Although much of this content fails to reach a large audience, some videos, like one mocking President Biden, have garnered millions of views. Despite this, experts believe China’s goal is not to sway voters toward a particular candidate but to erode trust in American democracy.
AI-Generated Memes and Deepfakes
AI-generated content is increasingly being used to manipulate voter perceptions. Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image of pop star Taylor Swift endorsing him, which was entirely fabricated:
Retrieved from CNN/AI Generated Image
This content capitalizes on political satire and partisanship, further polarizing voters. More dangerously, deepfake technology could produce hyper-realistic fake videos of political figures, undermining trust in authentic information. These AI tools have evolved to produce remarkably convincing images, making it difficult for voters to distinguish between real and fake visuals.
A post on X from former President Donald Trump’s account. NPR created the red border to highlight the AI generated content. Source: NPR
False Claims of Election Fraud and Voter Suppression
A recurring theme in 2024 disinformation is the false narrative of noncitizens voting in U.S. elections. In states like Alabama and Texas, erroneous voter purges have mistakenly flagged naturalized citizens as ineligible voters. These actions stem from the GOP’s unfounded claims that Democrats are encouraging noncitizen voting, despite the lack of evidence supporting such assertions. The fear is that these measures may disenfranchise legitimate voters, particularly in swing states, and fuel baseless accusations of election fraud.
The First Major Cyber Attack of the Election
In the first confirmed cyberattack of the 2024 election, foreign entities targeted U.S. voter data and attempted to manipulate email communications between political candidates. Although authorities anticipated such attacks, the scale of the operation highlights the growing sophistication of cyber threats designed to disrupt the democratic process. Analysts warn that similar attacks are likely to increase as Election Day approaches.
Debunking Misinformation Around Candidates
In addition to disinformation campaigns from foreign actors, false claims have also circulated domestically. For example, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ running mate, has been the subject of fabricated claims regarding his stance on border security and the redesign of the Minnesota state flag. These claims were quickly debunked, but the rapid spread of such falsehoods illustrates the challenges in combating misinformation during the campaign.
Navigating Disinformation in 2024
As we near the 2024 election, the spread of disinformation is accelerating, driven by foreign influence campaigns, AI technology, and domestic political manipulation. With the rise of deep fakes and the constant stream of misinformation on social media platforms, voters must remain vigilant. Fact-checking, media literacy, and regulatory oversight will be essential in maintaining the integrity of this critical election. While tech companies have taken steps to address these issues, the responsibility also lies with political leaders to foster a more truthful and less divisive campaign environment.
References
Associated Press. “FACT FOCUS: False claims follow Minnesota governor’s selection as Harris’ running mate.” AP News, August 6, 2024. https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-misinformation-walz-2024-election-cdf9f77a9975bc960b7311a3f08e52e1
Bond, Shannon. “China is pushing divisive political messages online using fake U.S. voters.” NPR, September 3, 2024. https://www.npr.org/2024/09/03/nx-s1-5096151/china-tiktok-x-fake-voters-influence-campaign
Bond, Shannon. “How AI-generated memes are changing the 2024 election.” NPR, August 30, 2024. https://www.npr.org/2024/08/30/nx-s1-5087913/donald-trump-artificial-intelligence-memes-deepfakes-taylor-swift
Joffe-Block, Jude. “The GOP is making false claims about noncitizens voting. It’s affecting real voters.” NPR, August 30, 2024. https://www.npr.org/2024/08/30/nx-s1-5091032/noncitizens-voting-election-gop-texas-tennessee-alabama
Joffe-Block, Jude. “Why false claims that a picture of a Kamala Harris rally was AI-generated matter.” NPR, August 14, 2024. https://www.npr.org/2024/08/14/nx-s1-5072687/trump-harris-walz-election-rally-ai-fakes
Klepper, David. “China-linked ‘Spamouflage’ network mimics Americans online to sway US political debate.” ABC News, September 3, 2024. https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/china-linked-spamouflage-network-mimics-americans-online-sway-113342948
Sanger, David E. “The First Major Cyber Attack of the 2024 Election.” The New York Times, August 27, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/27/podcasts/the-daily/hacking-2024-election.html
Strain, Daniel. “AI images abound this election cycle. Here’s how you can tell fact from fiction.” Colorado Today, August 29, 2024. https://www.colorado.edu/today/2024/08/29/ai-images-abound-election-cycle-heres-how-you-can-tell-fact-fiction
