Rwanda, Kigali: As Rwanda prepared for its national election on July 15, researchers at Clemson University uncovered a coordinated network of over 460 accounts on X (formerly Twitter), sharing AI-generated messages in support of President Paul Kagame. Despite the clear signs of inauthentic behavior, X did not take any action to remove these accounts, highlighting a concerning trend under Elon Musk's leadership. Since Musk took over, X’s trust and safety team has been significantly reduced, leading to an increase in influence operations worldwide.

The researchers’ findings reflect a broader issue with X’s moderation policies, which have become increasingly lax, particularly in regions like Rwanda that are less visible on the global stage. Similar influence campaigns have been identified in other countries, including those targeting elections and spreading disinformation. The restructuring of X's verification system under Musk, allowing anyone to obtain a blue check mark for a fee, has further facilitated these operations.

Efforts to combat these campaigns have largely been ineffective unless backed by legal actions, as seen in the U.S. Department of Justice's recent intervention against a Russian disinformation campaign. The platform's inaction raises serious concerns about the vulnerability of democracies around the world to influence operations, especially as many nations head to the polls in 2024.