The American Sunlight Project (ASP) has exposed a network of nearly 1,200 accounts on X that have been spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda, content favoring Donald Trump, and false information about Kamala Harris. The study, which was shared exclusively with AFP, found that some of these accounts have been active on the platform for over 15 years, signaling potential bot activity. Despite criticism and calls from ASP's co-founder and former Department of Homeland Security disinformation chief Nina Jankowicz, X has yet to take down the network. This has raised concerns about the platform's ability to prevent manipulation and spam as the US presidential election draws near, especially given Tesla CEO Elon Musk's endorsement of Trump and his own history of amplifying political falsehoods on X.
Pro-Russian and Pro-Trump Propaganda Network on Twitter Raises Concerns
Google has reported that the American Sunlight Project (ASP) has uncovered a network of approximately 1,200 accounts on Twitter that have been disseminating pro-Kremlin propaganda, promoting Donald Trump, and spreading false information about Kamala Harris.
Background
The ASP is a research and advocacy organization that focuses on government transparency and accountability. In recent years, it has increasingly focused on the role of social media in spreading misinformation and disinformation.
The Study
The ASP's study, which was shared exclusively with AFP, analyzed nearly 1,200 Twitter accounts. The researchers found that:
Concerns
The ASP's findings have raised concerns about Twitter's ability to prevent manipulation and spam, especially given the upcoming US presidential election. The study also comes amid Tesla CEO Elon Musk's endorsement of Trump and his own history of amplifying political falsehoods on Twitter.
Top 5 FAQs
Q: What is the American Sunlight Project? A: The American Sunlight Project is a non-profit organization that promotes government transparency and accountability.
Q: What did the ASP study find? A: The ASP study found a network of nearly 1,200 Twitter accounts that have been spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda, promoting Donald Trump, and spreading false information about Kamala Harris.
Q: Why is this concerning? A: This is concerning because it raises concerns about Twitter's ability to prevent manipulation and spam, especially given the upcoming US presidential election.
Q: What has Twitter done in response? A: Twitter has yet to take down the network, despite concerns raised by the ASP and others.
Q: What can be done to address this problem? A: Experts recommend that Twitter take steps to identify and remove bots, increase transparency about political advertising, and work with researchers to combat misinformation and disinformation.
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