AI-Generated Memes Spread Misinformation in 2024 US Presidential Campaign
AI-generated memes spread misinformation during the 2024 US presidential campaign, with politicians and their supporters using artificially created images to amplify false claims and xenophobic narratives. While the images were often absurd rather than photorealistic as experts had feared, they served as effective viral tools for spreading racist and politically motivated disinformation.
What happened
During the 2024 US presidential campaign, AI-generated memes and images circulated widely on social media, often depicting absurd scenarios such as Trump riding a giant cat with an assault rifle, Harris depicted with facial hair dressed as a communist, and the two candidates embracing.
Trump and his allies used AI-generated memes to amplify false claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio were stealing and eating dogs and cats. Examples included images showing Trump surrounded by cats and white ducks, and memes depicting kittens holding signs saying 'No dejen que nos coman, ¡Voten a Trump!' posted on Trump's Truth Social account.
Reported impact
AI-generated images served as viral media for spreading false messages with sometimes racist and xenophobic content tied to political campaigns. According to online propaganda expert Francesca Tripodi from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, these memes amplifying anti-immigrant narratives are 'anything but humorous' and represent a grave problem when used by elected officials to perpetuate racism and xenophobia.
Index analysis
While experts had anticipated photorealistic AI-generated videos would deceive voters, many AI-generated images that circulated were caricatured and absurd enough that they were unlikely to be taken seriously by viewers. However, even absurd memes proved problematic as tools for spreading false and sometimes racist messages with clear political inclinations.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.