Users spreading misinformation in US polls, AI images claim they’re being paid by X: report

Less than a week left before the start US presidential electionsSome X users who regularly post election misinformation, AI-generated images and conspiracy theories have said the platform is paying them “thousands of dollars.”

The BBC in its report said it had identified networks of several X users who were actively spreading false information about the US elections. Some said that earnings from their own and other people’s pens ranged from a couple of hundred to thousands of dollars.

They also coordinate each other’s messaging on forums and group chats. “This is a way to help each other,” the BBC quoted one user as saying in its report.

Some of these networks support Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, others Democratic candidate Kamala Harrisand some of them are independent. Some of these profiles, which said they were not affiliated with official campaigns, were approached by US politicians, including congressional candidates, asking for their support.

On October 9, X updated its rules so that payments to qualifying accounts with large numbers of followers are now based on premium user engagement—likes, shares, and comments—rather than ad views.

Although X has a smaller user base than some other platforms, it plays an influential role in political discussions, raising questions about whether it incentivizes users to post inflammatory content, regardless of its accuracy, especially as US election day approaches.

Among the misinformation shared by some of these users were claims of election fraud in the US, which were denied by authorities.

Some of these false posts also made their way to other social media platforms with wider audiences, including Facebook and TikTok.

In one case, user X, with a small following, told the BBC that he had created a doctored image of Kamala Harris working at McDonald’s as a young woman. Other users then spread unsubstantiated claims that the Democratic Party was changing images of its candidate.

X’s baseless conspiracy theories about the July assassination attempt on Donald Trump also circulated on other social media platforms.

However, the spread of false information through AI-generated images is not limited to unknown X users. Earlier in August, the Republican candidate Donald Trump shares fake image of pop star Taylor Swift dressed in American colors with the caption “Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump.” Swift, however, did not respond to this report at the time, but later denied it; support for Trump opponent and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

IT’S MUCH EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE MONEY

Speaking to the BBC, one X user, who wished to remain anonymous, said he spends up to 16 hours a day posting content on X. He said that in the last few months since he started posting about it, he has collected about 11 million views. surveys in the United States are conducted regularly. He said that although he is an independent, he would prefer Donald Trump to be president than Kamala Harris.

He said he makes “small thousands” a month from X. “I think it’s become a lot easier for people to make money,” he said.

He said some of the users he knows earn five figures and said he can confirm this by looking at the reach of their posts. “That’s when it really becomes a job,” he said.

Rejecting concerns about misinformation influencing US elections, he said the government “spreads more misinformation than the rest of the internet combined.”

He said it’s “very common” for local politicians to turn to accounts like his on X for support.

When asked about the impact these posts could have on US elections, he said: “I think you’re seeing it now. I think a lot of Trump’s support comes from that.”