Combatting Disinformation Against Black Voters And The Georgia Runoff

Combatting Disinformation Against Black Voters:

The propagation of misinformation and deception harms American politics. Washington, D.C.-based political communications company A-B Partners is at the core of this conflict. Their goal is to combat “racist disinformation.” Win Black, a 2020 501(c)(4), leads their activities. The main purpose of this project is to stop Black voter deception tactics.

Misinformation and deception permeate American politics. Both have distinct intentions, but they generate a cynical and apprehensive electorate, leading to voter disillusionment. Since the 2016 election, researchers have shown that these tactics have targeted African Americans most, primarily via Russia’s Internet Research Agency. Win Black’s goal is to debunk myths and spread facts.

The fight against disinformation is multifaceted. Win Black promotes accurate material, even when “BLM violence” or “voter crackdowns” are bogus. Countering these fake beliefs is vital since they lower voting participation. 

They also create viral counter-narratives to dispel falsehoods in real-time. They use various materials, from powerful black-and-white photos to relatable GIFs, to engage and enlighten voters and combat disinformation.

Win Black struggles to find deceptive material creators and get social media networks to delete it. They also give counter-messaging that addresses complicated societal issues. 

They labor tirelessly, notably in Georgia, where many Black male registered voters have not voted despite massive mobilization attempts. The fight against misinformation continues since these voters are excellent targets for disinformation efforts.

Disinformation’s Impact On Black Male Voters

Jermaine House, senior director of contacts at HIT Plan, a D.C.-based polling and focus group business, has seen disinformation damage more Black males. Misinformation typically exploits fears and worries to cast doubt on their choices.

Due to their ability to exploit this demographic’s innermost anxieties and material worries, misinformation efforts are robust. After the anti-Asian-hate-crime measure passed in May 2021, the House was surprised to hear some voters recite its vote count and features in focus groups. Despite an approved and signed “anti-lynching bill” for Black America, these voters wondered why there was no comparison.

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The Road Ahead For Win Black

Andre Banks of A-B says, “We are in our final stretch.” Without fear of the unknown, Win Black is ready to confront any obstacle in 48 hours. Georgia, a swing state with a sizeable Black voting base, remains a focus for the project. Stacey Abrams nearly lost to Republican incumbent Brian Kemp in the last election, but the fight continues.

Win Black can continue combating disinformation and amplifying Black voices throughout the Georgia runoff, which promises many more weeks of campaign activity. Win Black is committed to fighting deception despite its continual challenges.

The fight against racism and misinformation is brutal, but Win Black shows the necessity of combating false narratives and guaranteeing a fair and inclusive political process. The battle for democracy and citizen rights transcends political ties.

The Role Of Influence Campaigns In Spreading Disinformation

Understanding influence efforts is crucial to fighting misinformation. Christopher Bouzy, creator of Bot Sentinel, a neutral nonprofit detecting fake internet activity, explains how easy influence efforts are. 

While it is important to note that not all people concerned about polling place violence are part of such efforts, the assumption that distributing misleading information needs sophisticated resources persists. Bouzy notes that these campaigns can be started with little money, and social media producers may benefit from trendy subjects, even if they are fake or contentious.

According to Bot Sentinel, just 83 Twitter accounts launched a concerted operation pushing Meghan Markle hate material. Even more unexpected, these accounts were run by regular people, mostly middle-aged Caucasian women. 

This shows how accessible social media deception is. Bouzy adds that most electoral misinformation and disinformation favors conservative goals, although individuals across the political spectrum may use them.

Georgia and other tightly fought states saw more advertising targeting Black voters. Since most Black voters favor Democrats, they are the focus of such ads. Campaigns are skilled at creating messaging that deter or mislead Black voters, according to the research.

Influence efforts are not new, but their strategies and effects have changed. President of Color of Change, a racial justice movement, Rashad Robinson, recounts disinformation and misinformation campaigns to suppress Black voting. Offline voter suppression is prohibited, but online misinformation may spread unchallenged.

The 2016 Trump campaign shows how influence efforts may target Black voters. They targeted 3.5 million Black voters with “negative” Hillary Clinton commercials to demoralize them into not voting. Trump obtained 12% of the Black vote in 2020, up from 8% in 2016, with Black male support rising to 19% from 13%.

Several factors, including influence efforts, caused this transition. Major social media sites committed to fighting misinformation after the 2016 election, but present laws enable fraudulent voting-related remarks to spread quickly before being deleted.

Not all Trump campaign wins with Black male voters are due to deception. A small but rising number of Black Americans, mostly men, have voted Republican. Influence efforts have exploited fears and promoted divided narratives to lure Black people to Republican politicians.

The Influence Of Messaging And Misinformation On Black Men’s Voting Behavior

Disinformation operations affect Black male voters before elections. A September survey in Georgia found Black male voters less favorable of Stacey Abrams than previous Democratic candidates in prior campaigns, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. To understand this trend, Black Voters Matter veteran political strategist LaTosha Brown took a bus tour of Georgia to talk to over 80,000 college-age voters.

Black males repeatedly told her Abrams’ opponent, Brian Kemp, was “good on business.” Some males believed Stacey Abrams was unsupportive of men since she was single. These thoughts, expressed in similar language, showed that voters were mimicking internet propaganda.

Sexism may have contributed to this transition, but the idea that Black males have been targeted with political disinformation is noteworthy. Many young males who held these attitudes said they had seen similar messages online, confirming misinformation operations’ effect, Brown observed.

American Studies professor Duchess Harris explains this voting change. Women frequently vote for “linked fate,” or what favors the group, while males vote for themselves. The anti-lynching law debate in Black neighborhoods illustrates the zero-sum politics of one group’s gain and another’s loss. Using this approach, influence operations push Black males away from established voting tendencies.

Influence campaigns’ subtle effects on Black male voting behavior are evident. These efforts use voters’ anxieties and fears to promote divided narratives influencing their political choices.

political-communications firm that works with progressive groups, gathered on Zoom. They had less than 24 hours before the Election Day polls opened for a series of contests around the country that Democrats, at least, were billing as a last chance to form a functioning democracy.

A-B Partners is home to the minds behind the 501(c) 4 known as Win Black, a multi-organization project founded in 2020 aimed at muting what A-B Partners founder Andre Banks describes as “racist disinformation.” And this week, much of the focus in that Zoom room was on Georgia, home to major races involving Black candidates—Republican Herschel Walker and Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock facing off for Senator, and Democrat Stacey Abrams making another run at becoming the first Black woman to be a governor—and an electorate with a substantial number of non-white voters.