'Sleeper agent' bots on X fuel US election misinformation, study says

A study by the American Sunlight Project (ASP) has revealed that hundreds of pro-Russian bot accounts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) are disseminating misinformation related to the upcoming U.S. elections. These accounts, termed "sleeper agents," have been active for years, some for over a decade, and have generated more than 100 million posts, including pro-Kremlin propaganda and false narratives targeting Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. The research indicates that these bots quickly retweet content, suggesting automated activity. Notably, one account falsely claimed that Harris would be a "puppet" of Ukraine's President if elected, while another promoted debunked narratives about migrant manipulation in the election. The study highlights the challenges in monitoring such activities due to data restrictions imposed by X since Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform. Despite Musk's promises to eliminate spam bots, the report suggests that bot activity remains prevalent, undermining trust and safety on the platform. The ASP has called for X to take action against these accounts, which violate platform policies on manipulation and spam.

- Pro-Russian bot accounts on X are spreading misinformation about the U.S. elections.

- These "sleeper agents" have been active for over a decade and have generated significant false content.

- The misinformation campaign particularly targets Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

- Data restrictions on X hinder the ability to monitor and assess the full extent of bot activity.

- Despite promises from Elon Musk, bot activity continues to thrive on the platform.