A new report from Israeli tech company Cyabra reveals a surge in fake accounts on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, ahead of its release on Friday. Analysts found that 15% of X accounts praising former US President Donald Trump and criticising current President Joe Biden are fake, while 7% of accounts praising Biden and criticising Trump are also fraudulent. The study was conducted over two months starting 1 March and analysed popular hashtags and sentiments expressed in posts.

The analysis indicates a significant increase in newly detected fake accounts, up to tenfold during March and April. Cyabra's report identifies over 12,000 inauthentic pro-Trump profiles out of a total of nearly 100,000 and over 800 fake pro-Biden profiles out of around 10,000. Despite requests for comment, X, the White House, and the Trump campaign remained silent on the issue.

Cyabra suggests that the fake accounts supporting Trump are part of a coordinated effort to manipulate public opinion and influence online discussions in US. Evidence such as identical hashtags and synchronised posting times indicate a deliberate campaign strategy. However, the report notes that the fake accounts backing Biden do not exhibit the same coordinated behaviour.

Why does it matter?

X, now owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has faced criticism over its handling of fake accounts. While the company claims to combat bots and trolls, the prevalence of fake profiles remains a concern. Musk has pledged to address the issue, but Cyabra's findings highlight ongoing challenges in maintaining the platform's integrity amidst attempts to influence public discourse.