Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-03-05 08:34:24
Donald Trump supporters have been using AI-generated fake images of black voters to try and sway African Americans to vote Republican. The BBC Panorama investigation found several deepfakes depicting black individuals as supporters of the former president. These manipulated images are part of a larger trend of disinformation ahead of the upcoming US presidential election.
While there is no direct evidence linking these fake images to Trump’s campaign, they appear to be created and shared by US voters themselves. One example is Mark Kaye, a conservative radio show host in Florida, who posted an image of Trump surrounded by black women at a party. The image, although clearly AI-generated upon closer inspection, gave the impression that these individuals supported Trump. Kaye defended his actions, stating that he is a storyteller and not claiming the image to be accurate.
Another widely viewed AI image showed Trump posing with black voters on a front porch, originally posted by a satirical account. When reposted with a false caption claiming Trump had stopped his motorcade to meet these individuals, the image gained traction. The creator of the account, known as Shaggy, is a committed Trump supporter who attracted thousands of followers with his posts.
According to Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, there is a resurgence of disinformation tactics targeting the black community, particularly young black voters. These tactics aim to push a strategic narrative designed to win over black voters for Trump. The focus is on young black men, who are seen as more open to supporting Trump than black women.
These fake images are part of a larger effort by conservatives to sway black voters toward Trump, with campaigns targeting key swing states like Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Trump’s main political action committee, MAGA Inc, is launching an advertising campaign in these states to appeal to voters like Douglas, a taxi driver in Atlanta who feels Trump is more focused on the economy and immigration.
The evolution of disinformation tactics in US presidential elections has shifted from foreign influence operations in 2016 to domestic disinformation in 2020. In 2024, experts warn of a dangerous combination of both, with the potential for foreign governments to exploit the confusion created by fake images and misinformation.
As the use of AI-generated images and disinformation tactics continue to evolve, it is crucial for social media users and platforms to remain vigilant in identifying and combating fake news. The spread of misinformation poses a threat to the democratic process and the integrity of elections, making it imperative for individuals to critically evaluate the information they encounter online.
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