Deceptive ‘Bait-and-Switch’ Facebook Groups Snare US Voters: Study

AFP/APP

Washington: Dozens of Facebook groups posing as Kamala Harris fan pages are launching racist attacks, criticizing her record on immigration, and promoting her rival Donald Trump. Disinformation researchers term this a “bait-and-switch” tactic designed to deceive voters in the tight US election.

The American Sunlight Project (ASP), based in Washington, analyzed over 300 groups on Meta’s platform that disguise themselves as pro-Harris pages but mislead Democratic supporters with abusive posts or exploit her popularity to sell merchandise.

While there is no evidence of an organized effort, the ASP study highlights a tactic aimed at spreading false election narratives in trusted online spaces.

“These are typically communities where members share a high level of trust, making them more susceptible to accepting disinformation, miracle cures, or memes,” said ASP’s co-founder and chief executive, Nina Jankowicz, formerly of the Department of Homeland Security. Jankowicz noted an “explosion” of these groups since Harris entered the presidential race in the summer.

One group portrays itself as a hub for “Kamala Harris fans,” describing her as a “trailblazer, a symbol of diversity, and a champion for justice and equality.”

However, the group hosts posts undermining Harris, including one image showing a brown woman smearing her face with black paint, captioned: “Kamala getting ready to talk to Black people.”

The post mirrors Trump’s false accusation that Harris “turned Black” and is exploiting her race to appeal to African-American voters.

As the first Black, South Asian, and female vice president in US history, Harris has often faced racist and sexist attacks, which disinformation researchers warn are heightened in politically charged online spaces.