Fears had been raised as soon as once more that an election within the United States might be marred by way of on-line incorrect information.
False claims about balloting and elections have unfold broadly on social media forward of the midterms — which is able to see all seats within the House of Representatives and somewhat greater than a 3rd within the Senate up for grabs — in spite of guarantees by way of tech corporations to handle the subject.
Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube all say they’ve expanded their paintings to hit upon and forestall damaging incorrect information that would suppress the vote and even result in political violence.
Concerns in the USA had been heightened after supporters of former US President Donald Trump stormed the USA Capitol in January 2021. Many had been fuelled by way of the false declare that the 2020 presidential election have been “stolen” from Trump because of voter fraud.
The similar false narratives had been voiced on smaller platforms or far-right teams, corresponding to Gab and TruthSocial, Trump’s personal platform.
Euronews has tested 5 viral false claims that experience gave the impression on-line forward of the USA midterms.
1. No proof of poll ‘harvesting’
Unfounded claims about electoral fraud and mail-in ballots had been standard ahead of, all over, and after the 2020 presidential vote.
Since then, baseless allegations about voter fraud have additionally been unfold on-line all over elections in France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. And forward of the USA midterms, identical incorrect information is being unfold as soon as once more.
Some social media customers have claimed, with out proof, that the Democratic Party will “harvest ballots” on a national stage to win the elections.
Others have falsely claimed that Joe Biden stated he would “cheat” within the upcoming election by way of “dumping ballots”. There isn’t any proof to improve those claims.
The Democrats’ chief has no longer made such a observation and simply said that the result of the USA midterms might take a while, because of the vote-counting procedure.
“We know that more and more ballots are cast in early voting or by mail in America. And we know that many states don’t start counting those ballots until after the polls close on November 8,” Biden stated.
“That means, in some cases, we won’t know the winner of the election for a few days — until after a few days after the election. It takes time to count all legitimate ballots in a legal and orderly manner.”
“It’s always been important for citizens in a democracy to be informed and engaged. Now it’s important for a citizen to be patient as well. That’s how this is supposed to work,” Biden persisted.
Members of Trump’s personal management — in addition to US state governments and courts — have all rejected claims about voter fraud all over the 2020 vote.
“[Electoral fraud] is not something that happens in abundance in the United States, they are rare and isolated occurrences,” stated Tammy Patrick, senior marketing consultant to the Democracy Fund Foundation, which oversees balloting problems in the USA.
2. Donald Trump used to be no longer reinstated on Twitter
After Tesla CEO Elon Musk bought Twitter, it fuelled hypothesis that Donald Trump’s account can be reinstated.
The former US President used to be got rid of from the platform ultimate yr for inciting violence amid the fatal Capitol riots, however Musk had up to now hinted that he would opposite the ban.
Many social customers have falsely claimed that Trump has already returned to Twitter forward of the USA midterms.
However, Trump’s account — on the time of writing — remains to be banned and no new profile has gave the impression at the platform.
Last month, Musk that no main content material moderation choices can be made by way of Twitter till a brand new “content moderation council” convenes.
Trump, himself, has additionally up to now claimed that he would no longer go back to Twitter although the permanent ban against him was lifted.
When Musk finished his acquire of Twitter, the previous US president wrote on his personal Truth Social account that he used to be glad that the social community used to be in “sane hands”.
3. Anti-Biden chant used to be no longer heard at an Obama rally
Another false declare circulating on social media presentations a Democratic Party rally in Detroit, attended by way of former US president Barack Obama.
In the video, the group allegedly started chanting “F*** Joe Biden” as Obama attempted to calm the attendees.
However, within the unique pictures, the group chants can’t be heard and the audio of “F*** Joe Biden” has been artificially added.
Obama used to be in fact interrupted by way of any person as he discusses the assault on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband. The crowd then start chanting the previous president’s title.
No insults or reference to the present US president Biden can also be heard within the unique video, revealed by way of more than one information shops.
Obama has been a significant a part of the Democrats’ marketing campaign path, collaborating in a multi-state excursion to lend a hand spice up the celebration’s applicants in a difficult nationwide surroundings.
4. Photo of a Republican lawmaker and ‘Nazi salute’ is manipulated
Republican consultant Marjorie Taylor Greene has up to now been suspended by way of Twitter for sharing incorrect information and debunked conspiracy theories.
But she herself has additionally been the topic of false claims after a manipulated symbol gave the impression on-line.
An edited symbol depicts the Georgia congresswoman showing to do a Nazi salute whilst dressed in a pink Soviet Union T-shirt.
Users have falsely claimed that is proof that the Republican consultant is a “fascist”.
However, the unique photograph used to be first shared on-line a number of years in the past and it does no longer display Greene.
5. Election leads to Arizona aren’t already identified
One week ahead of the USA midterms, a TV information outlet in Arizona apparently revealed election effects.
Fox 10 Phoenix broadcast revealed a ridicule graphic that confirmed Democrat candidate Katie Hobbs beating Republican Kari Lake.
Social media customers advised that this used to be proof of election fraud or voter tampering.
But the inside track outlet showed that the graphic template have been by chance revealed and that it had displayed randomly-generated numbers and no longer the real election effects, which might be issued by way of native officers.
“This graphic was never meant to go on air — the numbers were only part of a test,” the station wrote on Twitter. “[We] have taken steps to make sure this cannot happen again.”
A spokesperson for the Associated Press has also confirmed that they had provided randomly-generated numbers as part of routine testing ahead of election days.
“The data is randomly generated by a computer and is not based on any predictive analysis or polling.”
A false claim about election fraud also spread online following the French presidential election runoff in April after a “pc error” displayed an unsuitable graphic.
