WWhen X launched a new feature that discloses the locations of popular accounts, the intention was to enhance transparency and combat misinformation. However, this led to an uproar, with users expressing outrage upon discovering that numerous prominent “America First” and pro-Trump accounts were actually based overseas, resulting in a blame game.
The feature was activated over the weekend by Nikita Beer, X’s head of product, who stated it was a pivotal step in “maintaining the integrity of the global town square.” Since its launch, many highly active accounts frequently commenting on US politics have been “debunked” by fellow users.
A fan account of Ivanka Trump discussing illegal immigration has been traced back to Nigeria. MAGAStorm, which disseminates conspiracy theories regarding President Trump’s alleged assassination attempt, is situated in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, AmericanVoice, which shares anti-Muslim content, is based in India.
Many users have observed that a significant percentage of these deceptive accounts, which often claim American origins, are traced back to Asia. Experts remain divided on whether these activities are part of state-sponsored influence operations or merely driven by opportunists in pursuit of quick profits.
Monetizing “anger fodder”
In 2024, the Information Resilience Center (CIR) uncovered a network of accounts on X impersonating young American women, utilizing images from European influencers to build their credibility. These images are often altered to include pro-Trump hats and attire.
Thanks to X’s enhanced location features, investigator Benjamin Strick discovered that nearly all accounts posing as “independent Trump supporters” were actually based in Thailand.
Strick commented that these accounts, while vowing to “follow the patriots” and “stand with Trump,” also frequently share anti-Muslim content.
In a 2024 report, CIR indicated that these accounts took advantage of “existing social tensions” to disseminate disinformation.
“They leveraged discussions surrounding gender and LGBTQ+ rights to undermine Democratic policies and amplify Republican perspectives,” the report asserted.
Concerns about foreign entities using social media to sway American voters peaked after Trump’s 2016 election victory over Hillary Clinton. An intelligence briefing the following year detailed actions taken by the Russian government to employ bot farms in support of Trump.
Since then, experts have warned that foreign influence operations have grown increasingly sophisticated, though such concerns seem to have faded as American politics have become more polarized and voters more isolated.
However, Simon Copeland, a researcher at the Australian National University, believes that the sheer volume of pro-Trump accounts globally may be equally motivated by profit as by political aspirations.
“Social media is fundamentally driven by attention… [and] platforms like X and Twitter offer monetary rewards for that,” he explained, noting that the most effective way to garner attention currently is to “post about Donald Trump.”
Changes in X’s monetization strategy may also play a role. In 2024, the platform revealed that creators would be compensated based on audience engagement, leading to concerns that this would incentivize the creation of ever more controversial content.
“As platforms reward engagement, creators will lean towards posts that spark discussion, including those that provoke anger and prompt users to respond,” TechCrunch mentioned at the time.
“That’s where the anger fodder comes into play,” Copeland stated. “Individuals intentionally aim to provoke outrage to draw users to the platform and engage with the content.”
The precise calculations determining user payments remain unclear, and it’s uncertain how much revenue overseas users masquerading as MAGA supporters are generating. A 2024 BBC report estimates these earnings could reach thousands of dollars for some. Experts in the disinformation field in Southeast Asia explicate that such figures can be a significant motivator for individuals in that region.
A 2021 report addressing Southeast Asia’s “disinformation crisis” found that many accounts pushing xenophobic and misogynistic narratives aimed at the American right were not deeply ideologically invested but rather “driven almost solely by entrepreneurial interests.”
The “dark corners” of the internet
Trump supporters, who maintain a continuous presence online, are outraged about the origins of some accounts (many of which have been suspended), while others question the relevance of this issue.
Copeland highlights the undercurrents of right-wing thought and how ideas birthed in obscure online areas can escalate to prominent political discourses in the U.S. and Europe.
On the night X began unveiling account locations, Donald Trump shared a post from the account Trump_Army_, which has around 600,000 followers and frequently promotes conspiracy theories. In a recent post, it asked followers if “JFK was assassinated for trying to uncover the very fraudsters Trump is now challenging.” Shortly after, another user pointed out that Trump_Army_ operates out of India.
This is just one of the less concerning instances, yet it exemplifies how the expansive ecosystem of right-wing politics functions online.
“Extreme ideas often originate from the dark corners of the internet. They spread, transform into memes, reach more mainstream platforms, and eventually capture the attention of politicians,” asserts Copeland.
In May, President Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office, accusing him of ignoring “white genocide” against farmers in South Africa. These largely debunked assertions are believed to have partially emerged from far-right chat rooms.
“We must take this seriously,” he cautions, as such notions are “quickly being absorbed into the mainstream.”
Mr. X was contacted for commentary.
Source: www.theguardian.com
