The Rise of Disinformation on X: Fake Trump Accounts and the Spread of Anti-Bangladesh Sentiment
In the wake of the Hasina government’s fall, a surge of disinformation has flooded social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter). This surge has been facilitated by Elon Musk’s controversial decision to dismantle the platform’s content moderation team, creating a breeding ground for misinformation and manipulation. Two prominent accounts, @TrumpUpdateHQ and @thedonaldtriumph, masquerading as secondary accounts of former US President Donald Trump, have become key vectors for disseminating far-right talking points, often gaining thousands of views and amplifying divisive narratives.
These accounts exploit X’s relatively lax parody account guidelines. While the platform stipulates that such accounts must clearly identify themselves as parody, commentary, or fan accounts to avoid confusion, the enforcement mechanisms are evidently insufficient. The impersonated accounts exploit public interest in figures like Donald Trump, capitalizing on their established follower bases and leveraging their names to gain traction and credibility, even though their content is entirely fabricated.
The disinformation propagated by these fake Trump accounts often targets Bangladesh and its Chief Adviser, Yunus. The narratives range from fabricated stories about violence against Hindus in Bangladesh to allegations of orchestrated protests involving Donald Trump’s image. These accounts also frequently celebrate actions taken by India against Bangladesh, such as the deportation of alleged illegal immigrants, further fueling anti-Bangladesh sentiment within certain online communities.
One notable instance of disinformation involved a fabricated tweet from @therealdonaldtriump in response to Indian PM Modi’s statement congratulating Trump on a fictitious election victory. The fake Trump account pledged support for Hindus allegedly facing violence in Bangladesh, a claim that quickly spread across social media before being debunked. Another incident involved a fabricated story about the Awami League staging a pro-Trump protest, leading to the arrest of individuals carrying Trump placards. The fake account then portrayed these arrests as persecution of Trump supporters, further twisting the narrative.
These instances highlight the insidious nature of disinformation spread by impersonated accounts on X. The lack of robust content moderation enables these accounts to flourish, disseminating false narratives that can quickly gain traction and influence public perception. The fact that these accounts frequently push pro-rightwing, pro-Israel, and pro-India content, often with a distinctly anti-Bangladesh slant, suggests a deliberate agenda to manipulate online discourse and sow discord.
The rise of disinformation on X underscores the urgent need for more effective content moderation policies and enforcement mechanisms. The platform’s current parody account guidelines are inadequate to prevent the spread of fabricated information and manipulation of public opinion. The ability of impersonated accounts to gain verification through paid subscriptions further complicates the issue, as the blue tick can lend a false sense of legitimacy to these accounts and their content. Addressing this issue is critical to maintaining the integrity of online information and safeguarding against the harmful effects of disinformation campaigns. The unchecked spread of disinformation poses a significant threat to democratic processes and societal harmony, as demonstrated by the recent surge in anti-Bangladesh sentiment fueled by these impersonated accounts. Platforms like X have a responsibility to implement more robust measures to combat the spread of misinformation and ensure that users can distinguish between credible sources and malicious actors seeking to manipulate the online landscape.