Executive Summary

This report highlights the resurgence of disinformation campaigns targeting Black  and Hispanic communities in the United States. Using advanced technologies like AI and the broad reach of social media platforms, these campaigns aim to sow discord, suppress voter engagement, and weaken democratic processes.

Key Findings

Disinformation campaigns have intensified since 2016, leveraging new technological tools to craft more believable and harder-to-refute false narratives. Black  and Hispanic voters are primary targets, with efforts exploiting social and political tensions.

In African American communities, campaigns promote civic disengagement by suggesting systemic bias, foster disillusionment through narratives of Biden’s Broken Promises, and sow division via anti-immigrant sentiment and health misinformation that exploits historical medical injustices.

Key actors driving disinformation include far-right activists appealing to African American audiences while pushing divisive agendas, gateway influencers amplifying harmful narratives, foreign actors injecting divisive content, and online communities like The Black Manosphere promoting misogynistic ideologies.

In Hispanic communities, campaigns exploit cultural vulnerabilities and limited Spanish-language fact-checking. Narratives include communist and socialist smears, manipulated content like doctored images, and immigration falsehoods framing lax border security as an election manipulation tactic.

Countering disinformation is hindered by resource disparities in non-English fact-checking, encrypted platforms like WhatsApp that evade monitoring, and technological advancements such as deepfakes that deceive audiences.

Urgent action is required to develop strategies that protect vulnerable communities and safeguard democratic participation.

Strategies for Building Resilience for Civil Society and Legislators

Civil Society: Build a Strategic Misinformation Playbook focused on three pillars: (1) Partnerships, (2) Technology, and (3) Communications.

• Strategic Partnership Playbook: Identify key cultural players, including political and non-political local leaders, who have the cultural competence to combat false narratives and spread accurate information. Use online monitoring tools to track and analyze trends around specific topics outside of election cycles, addressing narratives before they are weaponized by domestic and foreign influence operations.

• Technology Playbook: Focus on identifying current and emerging technologies that create and disseminate content. Understand how company algorithms work and build relationships to flag accounts and content that could lead to voter suppression. Develop tools leveraging AI to detect misinformation trends across media channels, including radio, television, and social media.

• Communications Playbook: Promote media literacy, inoculate against potential misinformation, and establish rapid response communication systems across election integrity organizations focusing on ethnic population groups.

Legislators: Prioritize federal and state legislation on privacy, misinformation, AI-generated content, and increased funding for intelligence efforts to counter domestic and foreign interference in U.S. politics. Implement protocols akin to the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) to regulate AI and social media use in elections.

The proliferation of disinformation targeting Black and Hispanic communities poses a significant threat to the integrity of democratic processes. These campaigns are strategically designed to undermine the agency, unity, and political engagement of these communities. Combating this challenge necessitates a multifaceted approach that includes technological innovation, community engagement, and collaboration among policymakers, tech companies, and citizens.

By fostering media literacy, enhancing fact-checking efforts, and strengthening community bonds, society can build resilience against disinformation. Vigilance, informed engagement, and proactive strategies are essential to safeguard democracy and ensure that all communities can participate fully and fairly in the democratic process.

In the early months of 2024,  a familiar specter loomed over the American political landscape: misinformation and disinformation targeting Black  and Hispanic communities. Initially, the misinformation being shared was broad. However, after Vice President Harris was named by President Biden to replace him on the Democratic ticket, more targeted narratives began to emerge. These included claims such as “Black men won’t vote for Kamala,” doctored photos of the Vice President with convicted felons, accusations that she was a failed “border czar” responsible for the immigration crisis, and a fabricated sexual assault story targeting Governor Tim Walz. These narratives were just the tip of the iceberg on social media platforms.

Notably, these examples were fact-checked because they went viral and were in English. When Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck parts of the South, including key battleground states, false claims emerged about FEMA funds being diverted to help immigrants instead of victims of the natural disaster. After analyzing over 300 pieces of content in English and Spanish, a troubling pattern became clear: misinformation was no longer confined to traditional voter intimidation tactics. Instead, it was amplifying conversations and narratives designed to sow discord in the American psyche. For election observers, professionals working in election integrity, and politicians who were being targeted, this was a different type of election—one that would be won or lost online. 

The narratives being spread were difficult to debunk because they often stemmed from stories that couldn’t be easily refuted through traditional sources like newspapers or academic journals. While the advent of artificial intelligence introduced more sophisticated methods of content manipulation, the core strategies remained rooted in time-tested tactics of division and disenfranchisement. Social media influencers—both paid and unpaid—along with certain segments of Black and Hispanic media, played critical roles in amplifying these false narratives.

Disinformation targeting Black and Hispanic communities is not a new phenomenon; it has been a persistent tool of political strategy for decades. However, the combination of advanced technology and the ubiquity of social media has made these campaigns far more insidious and difficult to combat. Today’s false claims are crafted to appear more believable and inescapable, infiltrating a wide range of platforms, from Instagram and YouTube to radio shows and encrypted messaging apps.

This report explores the weaponized narratives targeting Black and Hispanic communities, analyzing the motivations behind them, the methods of dissemination, and the challenges in combating these campaigns. It also examines the specific vulnerabilities within these communities that disinformation agents exploit and provides strategic recommendations to strengthen their resilience against such attacks.

Tactics and Narratives: Disinformation Targeting Black Communities

Disinformation campaigns targeting Black communities exploit existing social and political tensions through targeted narratives and sophisticated dissemination tactics. Rooted in historical strategies of disenfranchisement, these efforts have been modernized by technology, amplifying their reach and impact. Onyx Impact, an organization focused on analyzing misinformation targeting Black communities, released a report shortly after the election that highlights the breadth of these campaigns.

A pervasive narrative centers on Civic Disengagement, asserting that voting is futile because the system is inherently rigged against Black people. This message erodes trust in democratic institutions and diminishes voter participation, particularly in key electoral moments. Similarly, claims about the current administration failing to deliver on promises to Black voters, encapsulated in the narrative of Biden's Broken Promises, fuel disillusionment by framing President Biden’s leadership as a betrayal of trust. These narratives are often circulated through far-right activist networks and amplified on social media, sometimes by Black influencers who may not fully understand the implications of their content.

Another prominent theme focuses on Anti-Immigrant Sentiment, framing Black immigrants as competitors to native-born Black Americans and blaming Latino communities for draining resources. This narrative fosters division between communities that might otherwise unite over shared goals and is disseminated by Black nativist and separatist groups, often bolstered by foreign actors seeking to deepen racial and ethnic divides. Health Misinformation also plays a significant role, exploiting historical medical injustices to erode trust in vaccines and conventional medicine, resulting in real-world health risks for already vulnerable populations.

The dissemination of these narratives relies on a network of actors with diverse motivations and strategies. Far-right activists and media figures target Black audiences with messages cloaked in language of empowerment but designed to undermine solidarity and trust. Influential platforms, such as popular cultural hubs, sometimes inadvertently amplify harmful narratives due to the viral nature of sensational content. Foreign entities further complicate the landscape, leveraging social media to inject divisive material into the public discourse. Additionally, online communities like the Black Manosphere contribute to the spread of misogynistic and anti-feminist ideologies, creating internal divisions that weaken collective resilience.

The ecosystem of disinformation targeting Black communities is vast, encompassing authentic voices unintentionally spreading falsehoods, far-right outlets deliberately advancing their agendas, and foreign actors destabilizing democratic processes. This interconnected web of actors has evolved into a powerful tool for sowing discord and eroding trust, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between authentic discourse and manipulated narratives.

Among the various tactics employed, the most damaging narratives focus on discouraging civic participation, undermining confidence in political leadership, and deepening internal divisions. These strategies capitalize on long-standing vulnerabilities, creating an urgent need for proactive and comprehensive countermeasures to protect the integrity of Black communities and their role in the democratic process.

The Spanish-Language Front: Disinformation in Hispanic Communities

Over the past three presidential election cycles, the Latino and Hispanic communities have been inundated with Spanish-speaking misinformation and disinformation. This trend has been fueled by the growing political influence of these communities in key battleground states, leading to a flood of false information shared across various platforms, including WhatsApp, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), local radio stations, and even from political leaders in the U.S. and abroad. According to the Pew Research Center, 21% of Latino Americans prefer to get their news from social media platforms. Without proper translation, moderation focused on Spanish-language content, and culturally relevant rapid response strategies, combating this type of disinformation remains an ongoing challenge.

The Hispanic community played a pivotal role in the 2024 U.S. election, especially in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida. For years, the Democratic Party struggled to court the broader Hispanic vote, leaving a significant portion of this electorate up for grabs. This created an opening for the Republican Party to build relationships, strengthen partnerships with business and faith leaders, and focus on issues beyond immigration. As a result of their outsized importance in the election, Hispanic communities were targeted with misinformation from political actors both domestically and abroad.

While many organizations focused on combating misinformation targeted national English-language stories, Spanish-language content was often overlooked. As The Washington Post observed, "Importantly, a lie in English-language media is likely to be corrected more quickly than one in Spanish-language media, simply based on the resources dedicated to such efforts in the U.S." Similar to African American communities, effective responses to disinformation require culturally appropriate solutions tailored to the unique needs of Hispanic communities.

According to an article by Cyberscoop, U.S. intelligence officials confirmed that foreign governments, including Russia and Iran, employed artificial intelligence and other tools to craft persuasive phishing lures and social media content in Spanish during the 2024 election cycle. Notably, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) reported that this was the first time the Cuban government actively engaged in influence operations targeting down-ballot congressional and state races. These operations targeted specific candidates to sway outcomes in strategic areas.

In addition to political misinformation, the Hispanic community was bombarded with false information related to natural disasters during hurricanes Helene and Milton. FEMA had to adapt its outreach strategy to counter the overwhelming volume of rumors, ensuring that accurate resources reached affected communities. These combined efforts highlight the critical need for multilingual, culturally specific approaches to effectively combat the persistent disinformation threatening the Hispanic electorate.

Key Narratives and Examples

The disinformation targeting Hispanic communities has relied heavily on emotionally charged narratives, often designed to exploit personal and historical trauma. Key narratives include:

• Communist and Socialist Smears
  Example: Ads depicting Vice President Harris as "Comrade Kamala," dressed in Soviet military attire against a backdrop of the hammer and sickle.
  Impact: Leveraging the traumatic histories of immigrants from countries like Cuba and Venezuela, these narratives evoke fear of authoritarianism and sway voter perceptions.

• Manipulated Content
  Example: Misleading videos splice statements from Democratic politicians with images of dictators, falsely suggesting ideological alignment.
  Spread: These videos are widely disseminated on social media platforms and occasionally through traditional media channels with insufficient oversight.

• Immigration Falsehoods
  Example: Claims that Democrats are failing to secure the U.S. southern border to allow undocumented immigrants to vote in U.S. elections.
  Origin: Often traced back to Russian disinformation campaigns aimed at sowing discord and distracting from domestic issues.

These narratives are amplified through a variety of mediums and actors, emphasizing the need for robust systems to identify, fact-check, and counter disinformation in real time.

The Outsized Influence of Technology

Technological advancements have revolutionized how information is created and shared, but they have also lowered the barriers for spreading disinformation. The same innovations that have democratized content creation are now being weaponized to mislead and manipulate, creating significant challenges for combating false narratives.

The Double-Edged Sword of Innovation

Technology has enabled the creation of highly deceptive content, making it increasingly difficult for individuals to distinguish between fact and fiction. Artificial intelligence plays a central role in this, facilitating the production of deepfakes and highly realistic manipulated media that can deceive even discerning viewers.

One striking example involves a fabricated video of a young Black woman falsely claiming that Vice President Harris left her paralyzed in a hit-and-run accident. Although entirely staged with actors and plagiarized content, the video went viral, garnering millions of views. Similarly, manipulated imagery continues to bolster false narratives, exploiting the inherent trust users place in visual media.

Social Media’s Amplification Effect

Social media platforms, designed for rapid information sharing, often serve as accelerants for disinformation. Algorithms prioritize engagement, amplifying sensational or controversial content without regard for its accuracy. This creates an environment where misinformation can thrive.

Gateway influencers—individuals and platforms with large followings—can unintentionally become conduits for disinformation when content aligns with their audience’s biases or preconceptions. At the same time, echo chambers on these platforms reinforce users’ existing beliefs, making it increasingly difficult to introduce corrective narratives and counter falsehoods.

The Role of Encrypted Messaging

Encrypted platforms, such as WhatsApp, add another layer of complexity to the disinformation landscape. These tools allow users to share content privately, bypassing public scrutiny and fact-checking mechanisms. Research from New York University’s Center for Social Media and Politics found that Latinos in the United States—both bilingual and predominantly Spanish-speaking—rely on YouTube for political news far more than non-Hispanic White individuals. They are also more likely to access political content through nontraditional channels not affiliated with major media outlets.

Additionally, WhatsApp is widely used for maintaining connections, including with friends and family abroad. According to a Pew Research study, 54% of Hispanic adults use WhatsApp, compared to 31% of Black adults and 20% of White adults. However, the lack of oversight on these platforms creates an environment where misinformation can spread unchecked, further complicating efforts to ensure factual accuracy.

The Fight for the Soul of Democracy

Disinformation campaigns targeting marginalized communities are not merely a challenge of misinformation but a broader attack on the fabric of democracy. These campaigns exploit long-standing vulnerabilities, amplify divisions, and undermine trust in institutions, leaving communities and democratic processes at risk. Addressing this crisis requires a multifaceted approach centered on resilience and counteraction.

Strategies for Resilience and Counteraction

Building resilience against disinformation begins with engaging trusted voices. Partnerships with gateway influencers can help disseminate accurate information and promote media literacy within their audiences. Community leaders, with their cultural competence and deep connections, are uniquely positioned to counter disinformation effectively, fostering trust and credibility in their responses.

Investing in fact-checking and oversight is essential. Allocating resources to fact-checking organizations, especially those specializing in non-English content, ensures that false narratives are corrected promptly across all languages. At the same time, media literacy campaigns must empower communities to identify and verify misinformation, equipping individuals with tools to navigate the complexities of today’s information landscape.

Addressing the root causes of disinformation’s effectiveness is equally critical. Building trust in institutions through transparency and addressing historical grievances can mitigate the sense of disenfranchisement that disinformation agents exploit. Promoting inclusive narratives that celebrate diversity and shared goals weakens the divisive tactics often employed by bad actors.

Finally, leveraging technological solutions can provide a proactive defense against disinformation. AI-driven monitoring and detection tools enable real-time identification of false campaigns, facilitating swift and targeted responses. Social media platforms must also be held accountable, taking a more active role in enforcing policies and reducing the spread of harmful content.

The fight against disinformation is, at its core, a fight for the soul of democracy. Ensuring that marginalized communities are not only protected but also empowered to participate fully in the democratic process is a collective responsibility. By fostering resilience, amplifying trusted voices, addressing systemic vulnerabilities, and embracing innovative solutions, we can safeguard the integrity of our elections and reaffirm our commitment to a democracy that serves all.

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Author Note

For detailed information on debunked misinformation claims, election integrity technologies, and playbooks, please contact the author directly. The author independently researched and fact-checked over 300 claims from the U.S. 2024 election, focusing on political and personal attacks against candidates as well as false claims about early and in-person voting.

December 2024
Alexis C. Crews
Alexis@mereprotest.co