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.
Sergei Kiriyenko, a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, was uncovered as the mastermind behind a campaign to interfere in U.S. elections and spread disinformation online. This "Doppelganger" operation used fake news from imposter media outlets to sway public opinion in favor of Donald Trump and Kremlin interests. With quality journalism more important than ever in a time of misinformation, subscribing to responsible news sources is crucial.