Indian political consultants are using shadow social media accounts to influence elections globally, including recent campaigns in the United States.
Digital content creators in India are now influencing global elections. Young workers in Ahmedabad produce videos and posters for political campaigns located thousands of miles away. These workers often earn very low daily wages for their services.
Instead of working for official campaigns, these creators use shadow social media accounts. They hide their true identities to make coordinated messages look like independent support. This tactic helps them back specific candidates without direct links to the official team.
These workers often manipulate speeches or create false claims to damage a rival candidate's reputation. They distribute this controversial content across many hidden pages to reach large audiences. One worker noted that attacking female politicians is a common, easy strategy.
Next, researchers discovered these tactics reaching the United States. During the recent Michigan Senate primary, Indian-based bot accounts posted videos supporting candidate Haley Stevens. These accounts gained millions of views before the election took place.
Meanwhile, the United States is only the latest target for these groups. Indian consultants have already managed shadow campaigns in South America, Africa, and other regions. Experts say these consultants see no limits or rules in their work.
Also, these firms often use virtual private networks to bypass platform rules. They create or buy existing social media pages to spread their influence. This allows them to run targeted advertisements while avoiding detection by tech companies.
Furthermore, the payment methods for these services are often secretive. Many consultants rely on informal money-transfer systems to avoid bank oversight. Some even use physical cash codes to receive millions of dollars for their work.
Finally, experts compare this trend to India’s massive outsourcing industry. Political parties treat election manipulation as just another service to buy. This creates a global market for dirty tricks that threatens democratic processes worldwide.