WASHINGTON: Numerous Facebook groups present themselves as fan pages for Kamala Harris but engage in racist attacks, criticize her immigration record, and promote her rival, Donald Trump.
Disinformation researchers describe this as a “bait-and-switch” tactic designed to mislead voters in a competitive U.S. election.
The Washington-based American Sunlight Project analyzed over 300 groups on the Meta-owned platform that disguise themselves as pro-Harris pages while spreading abusive, hateful content or exploiting her popularity for merchandise promotion.
The rise of these Facebook groups, which typically gather communities with shared interests, does not appear to be a coordinated effort. Instead, it highlights a sophisticated method for spreading false election narratives in trusted online spaces.
Nina Jankowicz, co-founder and CEO of the ASP, explained to AFP that these groups often foster a high level of trust among members, making them more susceptible to believing the misinformation shared there, whether it pertains to elections, miracle cures, or memes.
The “bait-and-switch” tactic seems to target a range of political figures, including Trump. However, Jankowicz noted an “explosion” of groups focused on Harris since she announced her presidential candidacy over the summer.
One group claims to be a space for “Kamala Harris fans,” with its description celebrating her as a “trailblazer, a symbol of diversity, and a champion for justice and equality.” Yet within the group, posts aim to undermine Harris, including one featuring a brown woman smearing her face with black paint, captioned: “Kamala getting ready to talk to Black people.”
This echoed Trump’s false assertion that Harris “turned Black” to attract African-American voters. Harris is the first Black, South Asian, and female vice president in U.S. history.
