Twitter has reportedly suspended multiple fake accounts posing as Black supporters of President Donald Trump.
"Our teams are working diligently to investigate this activity and will take action in line with the Twitter Rules if Tweets are found to be in violation. Presently, we've taken action on some Tweets and accounts for violations of our policies on platform manipulation and spam," Twitter told CNBC.
The accounts in question utilized photos of real people including law enforcement and veterans for their profiles. Collectively, the accounts had garnered 265,000 retweets and mentions. Some of the accounts had even amassed more than 10,000 followers.
Clemson University Associate Professor Daren Linvill has conducted research regarding social media disinformation. He has said that imposters "are out there trying to influence our conversations before November." Linvill also explained that many of the accounts were set up in 2017 and had become more active as the election neared.
"The damage is done," Indiana University Professor Filippo Menczer added
"There is payoff just in getting the volume out there, and the fact that the original post is gone doesn't really matter."
Twitter has not yet revealed how many accounts are being reviewed. However, the company has said that it will not allow fake accounts "to artificially amplify or suppress information or engage in behavior that manipulates or disrupts people's experience on Twitter."
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