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Disinformation and the 2024 US Election
Analysis of disinformation campaigns during the 2024 US election, focusing on foreign interference, social media's role, and AI's impact.
English
Germany
PoliticsUs PoliticsElectionSocial MediaDisinformationForeign Interference
Office Of The Director Of National IntelligenceFederal Bureau Of InvestigationCybersecurity And Infrastructure Security AgencyNortheastern UniversityCenter For Countering Digital Hate
Kamala HarrisDonald TrumpElon MuskJoe BidenTaylor Swift
- What role did foreign actors play in spreading disinformation during the US election?
- Russia was identified as the most active threat, creating fake videos and articles to undermine the election. China also showed interest in manipulating the election, with TikTok's algorithm raising significant concerns.
- What was the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the spread of disinformation during the election?
- While some AI-generated fakes emerged, such as deepfakes and altered audio, a widespread wave of AI-driven disinformation did not materialize as initially feared. AI-driven bot networks were also used to support Trump.
- Did the disinformation campaigns influence the election outcome, and what were the long-term goals of these efforts?
- It's unclear whether disinformation changed how people voted; it likely reinforced existing narratives. The long-term goal of disinformation may be to weaken trust in media and democracy, rather than directly influencing votes.
- What was the extent of disinformation targeting the candidates in the US election, and who were the main perpetrators?
- The volume of disinformation targeting Kamala Harris significantly exceeded that against Donald Trump, according to experts. Foreign actors, particularly Russia, actively spread false narratives to undermine the election's legitimacy and sow chaos.
- Which social media platforms played a significant role in spreading disinformation, and what specific examples are mentioned?
- X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and YouTube were major platforms for disinformation, with Elon Musk's posts on X receiving billions of views and amplifying false claims. The Center for Countering Digital Hate found Musk's false claims were viewed 2 billion times.