Key facts
- Black advocacy groups are preparing for disinformation campaigns targeting Black voters in the 2026 midterm elections.
- AI-generated fakes, character attacks, and cynicism bombing are expected tactics.
- The NAACP is involved in research and voter education efforts.
- Black creators with large social media followings are issuing warnings.
- These efforts follow the Supreme Court weakening the Voting Rights Act.
Black advocacy groups and influencers are actively preparing defenses against anticipated disinformation campaigns targeting Black voters ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. These efforts aim to demystify common techniques used to suppress turnout, with a particular focus on AI-generated content. Tactics expected to be deployed include racist or unflattering false content targeting Black politicians and celebrities, character attacks, and 'cynicism bombing' designed to spread faster and more widely through trusted networks. The response involves research from organizations like the NAACP, voter primers, and playbooks from think tanks on identifying manipulation. Prominent Black creators with significant followings on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are also issuing warnings. These preparations come in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to weaken the Voting Rights Act, raising concerns that redrawn maps in Republican-led states could dilute Black representation.