Misinformation related to us election circulate

How X users can profit thousands by spreading misleading information about the US election and using AI graphics

Some X users claim that the social networking platform is paying them thousands of dollars for sharing content that includes false information about the election, artificial intelligence-generated visuals and baseless conspiracy theories.

In order to increase their reach and thus their earnings on the website the BBC discovered networks of dozens of accounts that repeatedly distribute one other's content throughout the day. This content includes a mixture of genuine, erroneous and counterfeit content.

Many claim that they have made between a few hundred and thousands of dollars from their own and other accounts.

Additionally they claim to coordinate the spreading of each other's posts on group chats and forums. According to one user "It's a way of trying to help each other out"

Some of these networks are impartial while others back Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. US politicians including congressional candidates have contacted a number of these profiles which claim to be unaffiliated with official campaigns in search of posts that would demonstrate support.

X modified its guidelines on October 9th so that qualifying accounts with a large reach now receive payouts based on the quantity of premium user involvement (likes, shares and comments) rather than the quantity of advertisements beneath their posts. 

A lot of social networking platforms let users share sponsored content or earn money from their posts. However they frequently have policies that let them suspend or demonetise profiles that spread false information. X does not follow the same rules regarding false information.

X significantly influences political discourse while having a smaller user base than some other websites. At a very delicate time for US politics it begs the question of whether X is encouraging users to make controversial statements whether or not they are factual.

The BBC determined that some of these X users were trustworthy after comparing their declared profits with the amount that would be expected of them given on their number of views, followers and interactions with other profiles.

Extreme baseless accusations of paedophilia and sexual abuse against the presidential and vice-presidential candidates were among the false posts disseminated by some of these networks of identities as were claims of election fraud that had been refuted by authorities.

Additionally some fake and misleading posts that started on X have spread to Facebook and TikTok two social

Making money is much easier now.

Fairy lights shaped like an American flag adorn Freedom Uncut's content development lair where he streams and creates movies. Although he claims to be an independent, he would prefer Donald Trump to Kamala Harris as president.

Free as his friends call him, claims that he can spend up to 16 hours a day in his lair sharing AI-generated images, posting on X and communicating with the network of dozens of content creators he is a part of. He claims that his family's private information was leaked online, resulting in threats, thus he withholds his complete name and true identity media platforms with larger followings.

In one instance a small-follower X user claims to have produced a Photoshopped photograph that purports to depict Kamala Harris as a young woman working at McDonald's. Then other people promoted unsupported allegations that the Democratic Party was falsifying pictures of its candidate.

Other social media platforms have took up X's baseless conspiracy theories regarding the July assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

Requests to speak with Elon Musk, the site's owner and enquiries regarding whether the platform encourages users to write in this manner were not answered by X.

He has agreed to meet with me and give me an explanation of how these networks on X function and he is by no means one of the most radical posters.

Since he started writing frequently about the US election, he claims to have received 11 million views in the last several months. As we converse at his Tampa, Florida, home he displays a number of them on the screen.

Some are blatantly satirical such as President Joe Biden portraying himself as a tyrant or Donald Trump like a character from The Matrix as he ignores gunfire. The following AI graphic is less fanciful: "Remember that politicians don't care about you on November 5th." It shows a person standing on the roof of their flooded house while fighter jets fly over.

The picture supports Mr. Trump's assertion that after Hurricane Helene, there were no helicopters, no rescue for residents of North Carolina. The North Carolina National Guard has refuted the assertion, claiming that in 146 flight operations it saved hundreds of lives.

According to Freedom Uncut he views his photos as "art" that provokes discussion. He claims that he can "do so much more by using AI" and that he is "not trying to fool anybody."

He claims he can earn in the "low thousands" per month from X since his profile was monetised: "I believe that earning money has gotten much easier for people."

He continues by saying that he could verify that certain users he knows have been earning over five figures by looking at the reach of their posts: "It's at that point it really does become a job."

He compares this to "sensationalist" traditional media and claims that "controversial" content typically receives the most views.

He claims that even though he shares "provocative stuff" it is "usually based in some version of reality." However, he implies that other identities he comes across are content to spread posts that they are aware are false. He claims that this is a simple "money-maker."

The government "spreads more misinformation than the rest of the internet combined" according to Freedom Uncut which downplays worries about false claims affecting the election.

Additionally he claims that local politicians frequently approach accounts like his on X to solicit support. He claims that several of them have messaged him about doing live streams with him and about making and sharing artwork, memes and AI pictures for them.

Whether they are truthful or not may any of these posts actually affect this election?

"I believe you're witnessing that right now. That, in my opinion, accounts for a large portion of Trump's support," he argues.

According to Freedom Uncut some traditional media companies are not as trusted as independent media which includes accounts that share false information and AI-generated imagery.

There is no way to know the truth.

Profiles such as Brown Eyed Susan who has over 200,000 followers on X are competing with the pro-Trump ones Freedom Uncut outlines.

She is a member of a group of "die-hard" accounts that support Democratic candidate Kamala Harris by publishing information several times each hour. She goes by her first name but she keeps her last name private due to insults and threats she has experienced online.

Susan told me from Los Angeles that she never planned for her account's reach to "explode" or for her posts to begin earning money. She occasionally publishes and re-shares over 100 messages per day and her posts can occasionally reach over two million users each. 

She claims that the only reason she gets paid for her articles is because she received a blue tick which is given to notable accounts and sponsored users on the website. I didn't request it. I am unable to conceal it or give it back. She informs me I clicked on monetise thinking that she can earn a few hundred dollars per month.

In addition to discussing politics, some of her most popular posts which have had over three million views have spread erroneous and baseless conspiracy theories that Donald Trump orchestrated the July murder attempt.

Although she concedes that the gunman and a crowd member were killed she claims she has serious concerns regarding Donald Trump's injuries the security lapses and whether the incident has been thoroughly investigated.

"This situation cannot be fixed to reveal the truth. And they are free to label it conspiratorial," she adds.

Susan also posts memes criticising the Republican candidate, some of which make use of artificial intelligence. He appears older or ill in a number of more compelling cases. These "illustrate his current condition" according to her.

He appears to be a despot in some depictions. All of her photos are obvious fakes, she insists.

She claims that she tries to "spread as much awareness" as she can for politicians, especially congressional candidates, who have reached out to her for support, similar to what Freedom Uncut does.

"They want it to be authentic."

After a dispute over whether Kamala Harris had ever worked at McDonald's, her fans posted a Photoshopped photo of her wearing the fast food chain's uniform on Facebook which quickly gained popularity.

Some pro-Trump accounts made baseless claims that the image originated with the Democratic Party until they discovered it was an altered picture of another woman wearing the uniform.

The image was first shared on X by an account named "The Infinite Dude," who captioned it, "This is fake." I was informed by the individual who took the picture that his name is Blake and that he shared it as a test. Compared to the other identities I have been corresponding with, his profile has a significantly smaller number of followers.

He told me he had "the original files and creation timestamps" when I asked for proof that he had altered the photograph but he chose not to share them with me since in his words proof is not that important.

"People share content because they want it to be real not because it is. "They just pick different stories to believe he continues but both sides do it equally.

He claims this isn't about politics yet it's unclear what party he supports.

Online X states that safeguarding and defending the user's speech is its top priority. Some AI-generated and altered audio, video and photos are given modified media labels by the website. Additionally it offers a tool called Community Notes that allows users to crowdsource fact-checking.

I looked into a network of accounts that shared phoney videos during the UK election and X did take action. However neither my enquiries nor my requests to speak with Elon Musk throughout the US election campaign have been answered.

That's important because social media firms like his have the power to influence the outcome of the election.