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Misinformation on X Amplifies During U.S. Election Cycle, Experts Say

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In the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, misinformation on X (formerly Twitter), largely stemming from posts by the platform’s owner Elon Musk, has garnered over two billion views this year, according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). Musk’s substantial following of 203 million has reportedly enabled widespread amplification of these claims, intensifying the platform’s influence over election narratives, particularly in battleground states crucial to the outcome.

A report from CCDH highlights that at least 87 of Musk’s posts related to the election were marked as misleading or false by fact-checkers. Experts argue that this massive dissemination of misinformation on X could shape voter perception and increase polarization as Election Day approaches. “X acts as a conduit, spreading content from one social media platform to others like Reddit and Telegram,” explained Carnegie Mellon University professor Kathleen Carley, an expert in disinformation studies.

Despite these concerns, a spokesperson from X defended the platform’s approach, pointing to the Community Notes feature that allows users to provide added context to potentially misleading posts. The spokesperson argued that Community Notes offer a more effective solution than traditional warning labels, as they encourage users to critically assess content.

Since Musk’s acquisition of X, the platform has reduced its content moderation practices, including layoffs that impacted moderation teams. Musk has also publicly backed former President Donald Trump in a close race against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. This environment of lax moderation, paired with Musk’s extensive influence on the platform, has fostered what experts call “network effects” that help misinformation spread between platforms.

False narratives about election processes in swing states, such as Pennsylvania, have also gained traction on X. Philip Hensley-Robin of Common Cause, a nonpartisan group advocating for fair voting practices, shared concerns over misleading claims in Pennsylvania. He noted that certain users had inaccurately presented legitimate administrative actions, such as flagging incomplete voter registrations, as election interference. “Some posts implied voter fraud, despite election administrators following all procedures to ensure that only eligible votes were counted,” Hensley-Robin stated.

One prominent instance of election misinformation on X involved a fake video suggesting that mail-in ballots for Trump in Pennsylvania were being destroyed. Cyabra, a digital intelligence company focused on disinformation, reported that an X account with 117,000 followers played a critical role in circulating the video. While the platform’s spokesperson noted that X took action against accounts spreading this misleading video, election experts argue that such interventions often occur too late to curb the narrative’s spread.

The widespread nature of election misinformation on X underscores the complex challenges social media poses to U.S. election integrity, leaving platforms and watchdogs struggling to keep up with the rapid proliferation of misleading information.

 

Trump and Harris Compete for Latino Voters Ahead of Presidential Election

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With Election Day just around the corner, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have intensified their efforts to court the Latino vote, campaigning across southwestern states where Latino voters hold considerable sway. Latino voters represent 14.7% of all eligible voters in the U.S. for this election, with New Mexico leading with a Latino population share of about 45%, followed by California, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. While California and Texas are predictably blue and red respectively, Arizona and Nevada, where Harris held her rallies, are crucial swing states.

Democrats have historically led with Latino voters, but recent polling shows that this advantage has waned over the last four election cycles, especially among Latino men, some of whom favor Trump on issues such as inflation and cost of living. Addressing a crowd in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Trump said, “I like you very much, and it’s good for my credentials with the Hispanic or Latino community,” though he jokingly asked the audience not to make him “waste a whole damn half a day here.” Despite New Mexico’s blue tilt—President Joe Biden won the state by 10.8 points in 2020—Trump believes he can win it, claiming, “We almost won it twice, and let me tell you, I believe we won it twice,” while suggesting that prior election results in New Mexico were manipulated.

Trump’s campaign, however, faced backlash last week after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made offensive comments about Latinos during a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden, calling Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage” and joking that Latinos “love making babies.” Campaign officials quickly distanced Trump from these remarks, though the former president has yet to apologize directly.

In New Mexico, Trump’s message focused heavily on immigration and border security, emphasizing the state’s border issues and asserting, “I am the only one that knows how to fix it.” However, a recent CNBC poll revealed that Latino voters ranked immigration as their fourth most pressing concern, with inflation, jobs, and threats to democracy taking higher priority. Furthermore, more Latino voters view immigration as beneficial to the U.S., though the gap has narrowed in recent years.

In contrast, Vice President Harris campaigned in Phoenix, Arizona, and in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, with a focus on the economy while contrasting her approach to Trump’s stance on immigration. “With five days left in this campaign, my opponent is making his closing argument to America—a message filled with hate and division,” Harris told the Phoenix crowd. “He insults Latinos, scapegoats immigrants, and it’s not just what he says; it’s what he will do if elected.”

At a Las Vegas rally, Harris was introduced by singer Jennifer Lopez, who emphasized her Puerto Rican heritage and addressed the significance of Latino unity, saying, “[Trump] has consistently worked to divide us. It wasn’t just Puerto Ricans that were offended that day; it was every Latino in this country.”

Both campaigns are ramping up efforts to reach Latino voters as November 5 approaches. Recently, Trump convened a roundtable with Latino business leaders in Florida, while Harris appeared in a pre-recorded interview aired by Telemundo, demonstrating the critical role that Latino voters are expected to play in this year’s election.

 

Pro-Trump PAC Funded by Elon Musk Faces Struggles in Battleground States Ahead of Election

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The political action committee (PAC) funded by billionaire Elon Musk to help re-elect Donald Trump is facing significant challenges in key swing states, with reports of underperformance and claims of canvassers inflating voter contact numbers. The PAC, known as America PAC, is responsible for mobilizing voters in battleground states like Wisconsin and Nevada but is reportedly failing to meet its doorknocking goals, just weeks before the November 5 election.

Several individuals involved in the outreach efforts revealed that canvassers are being warned they are missing crucial voter contact targets. In Wisconsin, for instance, the group had set a goal of reaching 450,000 voters by Election Day, but field organizers recently admitted they are far behind. A recording of an October 8 meeting, reviewed by Reuters, captures a manager stating, “We’re not going to hit 450,000, not with what we’ve got now.”

Alysia McMillan, a former canvasser for the PAC in Wisconsin, voiced concerns that failing to meet these targets could cost Trump the election. McMillan, who was fired after a pay dispute but later rehired by another contractor, claimed, “If this isn’t looked into in a timely manner, this can result in a waste of time and money and risk President Trump winning the election.”

Similar issues have surfaced in other states. In Nevada, Chris Young, a close aide to Musk and a Republican operative, reportedly conducted an audit to investigate whether canvassers had inflated their reported doorknocking efforts. There are concerns that some workers had manipulated smartphone apps to falsify their locations, prompting firings.

Despite these challenges, a source close to the PAC’s operations disputed McMillan’s claims, stating that the group is on track to meet its targets. Audits and routine field checks are standard practice, they said, to ensure the canvassing efforts are progressing as planned.

America PAC’s outreach strategy centers on encouraging “low propensity voters”—those who are likely Trump supporters but may be reluctant to cast their votes—to turn out in large numbers. The group’s work is focused on key battleground states where even a slight shift in voter turnout could determine the outcome in a race that remains too close to call, with polls showing a tight contest between Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

Musk, currently ranked as the world’s wealthiest individual, has provided at least $75 million to America PAC, according to federal filings. His financial backing is critical to Trump’s 2024 bid to return to the White House. Musk has publicly expressed his support for Trump, and Trump has indicated that he would appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission if re-elected.

However, the campaign has been plagued by operational issues, particularly with retaining canvassers. Some canvassers have complained about low pay—starting as low as $20 per hour in some instances—and long hours, often with no reimbursement for travel expenses in remote areas. As a result, retention has been a persistent problem.

In Nevada, the audit led by Young has not yet yielded a public report, and it is unclear if any changes have been made to the canvassing operation. Text messages from managers at Lone Mountain Strategies, one of the contractors hired by the PAC, revealed concerns over canvassers caught cheating by falsifying their doorknocking efforts. “We’ve fired two people today and auditors are going around checking doors for flyers,” one message read.

As Election Day draws nearer, America PAC has ramped up its efforts to recruit more canvassers, advertising pay rates starting at $30 per hour with performance bonuses on its website.