The race for California’s governorship is heating up, with Democratic candidates Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer facing accusations of inappropriately paying social media influencers to enhance their campaigns. However, a new front has emerged regarding fake accounts connected to these candidates.
According to a report from Cyabra, a firm specializing in disinformation security, over 3,000 fake social media accounts across platforms like Instagram, X, and Facebook have been attacking billionaire Steyer while promoting Becerra, who previously served as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Cyabra works with high-profile clients, including NATO and the U.S. State Department.
This analysis suggests there’s a “coordinated cross-platform effort” aimed at increasing negative discourse against Steyer, though it stops short of identifying who’s behind these accounts or their motivations.
The hostile account activity reportedly resulted in more than 1 million views and around 42,000 engagements. Many of these accounts shared pro-Becerra messages designed to highlight grassroots support while criticizing Steyer, particularly regarding his payments to influencer Carlos Eduardo Espina.
In one case, an account shared an article on Steyer’s immigration stance from Breitbart and appeared to join X just recently. Interestingly, this account previously focused on European news in German, making its sudden pivot to California politics seem rather peculiar.
Another account criticized Steyer for wanting to “buy the presidency,” even though he is running for governor. It’s been noted that some of the accounts lack profile pictures or clear identities, which raises further questions about their authenticity.
Interestingly, some accounts, including one based in Washington, D.C., have been consistently posting anti-Trump and pro-Democrat content since joining the platform in 2016.
Jonathan Underland, representing Becerra’s campaign, refuted claims that Becerra benefited from these fake accounts. Instead, he pointed out that Steyer’s campaign has seen increased spending as the primary approaches.
In the midst of this conflict, Cyabra speculates that many of these accounts may belong to organized political networks. Their review found that a significant majority of these accounts were also active in discussions about the upcoming 2024 presidential elections, focusing heavily on pro-Democratic messages.
Public relations expert John Kwatakye Atiko remarked that it is unusual for so many accounts to shift from national conversations to targeting local candidates. He expressed initial skepticism but noted a noticeable trend toward California’s political discourse.
Media commentator Kaivon Shroff emphasized certain telltale signs of fake accounts, such as low follower counts and abnormal posting activity. He shared a sentiment of skepticism about the impact of these accounts, suggesting that a million views might not be as significant as claimed.
Cyabra maintains confidence in their findings, stating that their analysis of account behavior indicates a coordinated effort, supported by specific patterns in their activity.
As the influence of social media becomes increasingly evident in the race, both candidates are accusing each other of unethical practices. While Becerra’s team firmly denies ever compensating creators for posts, Steyer’s camp asserts that they have properly informed influencers about necessary disclosures.
At present, Becerra serves as the leading candidate ahead of the primary. Nevertheless, Steyer appears to be closing in, determined to challenge him effectively.
