Twitter has recently suspended a slew of fake accounts pretending to be Black supporters of President Donald Trump. Many have tweeted this identical phrase: "YES IM BLACK AND IM VOTING FOR TRUMP."
A Twitter spokesperson told CNN the accounts violated rules against platform manipulation and spam, which ban users from tweeting to "artificially amplify or suppress information," among other activities.
It's not clear who's creating these accounts or their intended purpose, CNN senior business writer Donie O'Sullivan, whose coverage includes technology and politics, told Don Lemon on Tuesday. The number of accounts also was unclear -- CNN reached out to Twitter to confirm the number and is waiting to hear back.
A few suspended accounts, compiled by O'Sullivan and disinformation expert Josh Russell, show that their creators followed similar patterns: They'd all joined Twitter recently; their Twitter handles usually included a reference to "MAGA" or "KAG," Trump's newer campaign slogan that stands for "Keep America Great;" and their profile pictures were often stock images of Black men and women.
The fake accounts are the latest attempt at misinformation related to the 2020 presidential election in the form of fake Trump supporters.
SOURCE: CNN
