AI-driven disinformation running rampant on social media before US midterms, experts warn

Social media feeds are awash with an unprecedented flood of AI -driven disinformation ahead of November's US midterm elections, according to experts, who warn many posts are probably "slipping through the cracks". As tens of millions of Americans prepare to cast their vote, social media companies have scaled back their efforts to protect voters from lies meant to manipulate elections. While the backlash against Facebook after the Cambridge Analytica scandal prompted social media giants to bolster their trust and safety operations, a counter-backlash from the right over fears of speech restrictions - which intensified after Elon Musk's takeover of X, formerly Twitter, and the election of Donald Trump in 2024 - has led to significant layoffs from relevant teams. Artificial intelligence has made it easier than ever to launch a disinformation campaign. And platforms are increasingly relying on AI, rather than human intervention, to respond.