BBC Panorama has uncovered a disturbing trend where supporters of former US President Donald Trump are creating and disseminating AI-generated fake images of black voters to encourage African Americans to vote Republican.
These deepfake images, portraying black individuals as endorsing Mr. Trump, were discovered in dozens of instances, suggesting a concerted effort to sway the black vote in favor of the Republican Party.
While there is no direct evidence linking these images to Mr. Trump’s campaign, the manipulation tactics reflect a growing trend of disinformation ahead of the US presidential election in November.
These images, created using artificial intelligence (AI), appear to have been shared by US voters themselves, rather than foreign influence campaigns as seen in the 2016 election.
One example is Mark Kaye, a conservative radio show host in Florida, who shared an AI-generated image of Mr. Trump with a group of black women on Facebook. Although the image appeared authentic at first glance, closer inspection revealed telltale signs of manipulation.
Mr. Kaye defended his actions, stating that he is a storyteller rather than a photojournalist, and that individuals should not be swayed by images on social media when casting their votes.
Another widely viewed AI image depicted Mr. Trump posing with black voters on a front porch, falsely claiming that he had stopped his motorcade to meet them. The individual behind the account responsible for sharing this image, known as Shaggy, is a committed Trump supporter living in Michigan.
The proliferation of these fake images underscores concerns about disinformation targeting the black community, particularly younger black voters who may be more susceptible to such tactics.
Cliff Albright, co-founder of the campaign group Black Voters Matter, highlighted the strategic narrative pushed by conservatives to win over black voters, especially young black men, who are believed to be more open to voting for Mr. Trump.
The revelation of these fake images raises questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the influence of disinformation in shaping voter perceptions and behavior, particularly in key election battleground states like Georgia.
