Trump Supporters Target Black Voters With Faked AI-Generated Images

In the run-up to the 2024 US presidential election, an alarming trend has emerged as supporters of former President Donald Trump are creating AI-generated fake images of Black voters. 

What Is Happening?

This tactic is seen as a sophisticated effort to sway African American support towards the Republican party.

BBC Panorama’s investigation uncovered numerous deepfakes portraying Black individuals as Trump supporters. 

While there’s no direct link to Trump’s campaign, these images feed into a narrative of Trump’s popularity within the Black community.

“There have been documented attempts to target disinformation to black communities again, espeically young black voters,” said Cliff Albright, the co-founder of campaign group Black Voters Matter.

The Fake AI Images

One notable example is a creation by Mark Kaye, a Florida conservative radio show host, who shared an image on Facebook, where he has over a million followers. 

At first glance, the image, featuring Trump smiling with a group of Black women, appears genuine. 

However, anomalies such as overly shiny skin and missing fingers – common AI image flaws – become apparent upon closer inspection.

Candid about not producing authentic images, Kaye said, “I’m not a photojournalist. I’m a storyteller.” 

He attached the image to an article about Black voters supporting Trump, influencing some of his audience to believe it was real. 

Despite acknowledging the image’s inaccuracy, Kaye suggests the responsibility lies with the viewer, not the post.

Another widespread AI image found by the BBC shows Trump with Black voters on a porch. 

Initially posted by a satirical account, it gained traction when falsely captioned as Trump stopping his motorcade to meet these individuals. 

The person behind this account, a Michigan Trump supporter known as Shaggy, refused to discuss the image when approached by the BBC.

This phenomenon underscores the urgent need for vigilance and critical engagement with online content, especially as the 2024 election approaches.