How Indian bots for hire are shaping US midterms: ‘Everything is manipulated’

Campaign work crosses borders

A 22-year-old creator identified as Kumar described producing posters and editing videos for William Ruto’s 2022 presidential campaign in Kenya. He said some material distorted opponents’ remarks or made false claims about Ruto’s popularity and chances.

The US is among the destinations for Indian political services, according to consultants and researchers cited in the report. They also described work or research involving campaigns in Africa, South America, Australia, Germany, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Tushar Giri, a New Delhi consultant, said he had met representatives of a presidential campaign in Suriname last year, though talks did not lead to an agreement.

Online methods and reach

Political operators increasingly use social media to reach voters, including targeted advertising on Meta and Google platforms. The report notes that Russia has previously used similar methods to influence US voters.

Amogh Dhar Sharma, who wrote Backstage of Democracy about Indian political consultancies, said campaigns often prefer to keep voters’ attention on events unfolding publicly. He also described foreign campaign work as an extension of India’s business-process outsourcing sector.

Discreet operations and payments

Kumar said content creators may not know everyone involved in the chain connecting their work to senior campaign officials. The report also describes payments as difficult to trace.

Several consultants said some firms use hawala, an informal system in which brokers move money across borders outside conventional banking channels. One account involved collecting cash using an Indian banknote with a particular serial number as a code; the speaker did not identify the campaign or country involved.

Giri said the work relies on willingness to go far for a campaign. He described election manipulation as widespread, while Sharma said Indian firms’ experience in a complex electoral system has attracted overseas clients.