X Suspends 13,000 Accounts Linked to Foreign Influence Operations
X suspended over 13,000 accounts linked to suspected influence operations from China, Russia, and Iran targeting U.S. midterm elections.
The social media platform X suspended more than 13,000 accounts on October 14 after identifying three suspected foreign influence operations. The company linked these networks to China, Russia, and Iran, noting that the accounts used fake profiles to amplify political content targeting U.S. candidates and public figures across the political spectrum before the November 3 midterm elections.
X's Safety team discovered the networks through proactive monitoring and investigations into coordinated inauthentic behavior. While the company did not disclose the specific number of accounts per country or provide evidence linking the activity to government agencies, it stated it is working to stop behavior that undermines platform integrity.
Separately, the United States Department of Justice announced charges against 16 individuals on October 12 for fraudulent registration and illegal voting. While the Justice Department declined to confirm or deny specific investigations into the foreign influence operations identified by X, it stated it remains committed to keeping elections without foreign influence.
