In the days following the presidential election, misinformation and conspiracy theories about the 2024 election began to circulate on social media platforms among both right-wing and left-wing users. NewsGuard identified nearly 800 social media accounts and over 960 websites spreading false or misleading claims about the election, including allegations of vote-counting irregularities and rigged outcomes.
The false narratives emerged from both sides of the political spectrum, with Republicans questioning results in states won by Democrats while some Democrats pushed unfounded claims about Elon Musk’s Starlink technology being used to rig the election. However, there is no evidence to support these claims.
While right-wing election denialism has been fueled by established media outlets and prominent figures, left-wing conspiracy theories have been less prominent and mostly shared by less well-known accounts. Despite efforts by social media platforms to moderate misinformation, false claims about the 2024 election, including those related to Starlink and voting machine manipulation, continue to spread.
Some left-wing users even speculated about a potential win for Vice President Kamala Harris, citing changes on fundraising websites as evidence of a recount effort. However, these claims are baseless, and agencies like CISA and the FBI have debunked misinformation related to the election. While the potential impact of left-wing election denial narratives remains uncertain, it is clear that both sides of the political spectrum have been affected by misinformation and conspiracy theories following the 2024 election.
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