'Sleeper agent' bots on X spread US election misinformation
A research organization reported finding over 1,200 automated bot accounts on X that have spread misinformation about the 2024 US presidential election and Kamala Harris for years, some evading detection for up to 15 years, with connections to pro-Russia propaganda despite X owner Elon Musk's stated commitment to combat such activity.
What happened
The American Sunlight Project analysed approximately 1,200 accounts on X and found they formed a long-term network that generated over 100 million posts by July 2024, spreading pro-Russia propaganda, pro-Trump content, and false information about Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
The network included accounts that had evaded detection and moderation for up to 15 years. These accounts reposted content within seconds of it appearing, showing signs of bot activity, and used stock images from services like Shutterstock to create false identities.
One account created in 2020 falsely claimed Harris admitted she would become Ukraine's President Zelensky's 'puppet' if elected. Another promoted an unsubstantiated claim that the White House was using Israel's attacks on Hezbollah to push for regime change in Lebanon.
Reported impact
The bot network directed misinformation and abusive content at Harris ahead of the 2024 US presidential election. Researchers stated the bots replaced Russian state media accounts restricted by Western countries following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, serving as channels for Russian official misinformation.
Index analysis
Nina Jankowicz, co-founder and CEO of the American Sunlight Project, stated: 'We were not surprised to find another pro-Russia bot network, but we were shocked to find that some accounts in the lurking spy network have been active for over a decade.' She called for X to shut down the network, citing that abusive and false content targeting Harris had significantly increased.
Despite X owner Elon Musk's promises to combat digital manipulation, research shows bot activity remains entrenched on the platform. A 2023 analysis of approximately 1 million posts by Queensland University of Technology found bot accounts were still deeply rooted on X.
Governance controls
Jankowicz, formerly head of the US Department of Homeland Security's Disinformation Governance Board, stated that despite Musk's clear desire to remove bots from the platform, they persist, including networks potentially linked to states, and that the multi-billion-dollar company took no action against accounts violating its manipulation and spam policies.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.