X suspends 13,000 accounts over suspected foreign influence ahead of US midterms

X has suspended more than 13,000 accounts it connected to three suspected foreign influence operations linked to Iran, Russia and China. The announcement came ahead of the scheduled November 3 US midterm elections, the regular nationwide votes held between presidential elections, Al Jazeera reported.

X said the networks relied on fake accounts to post political content and to amplify its reach on the platform. The content targeted candidates and public figures across the political spectrum, rather than focusing on one side of the political debate, according to the company's description of the enforcement action.

X said it identified the accounts through proactive sweeps and investigations. It said those inquiries were conducted under its rules against spam and coordinated inauthentic behaviour, which refers to organised efforts that use misleading accounts to spread messages.

X outlined rules intended to limit misleading information about how, when or where to vote in the midterms. Those rules deal with claims that could confuse voters about the practical process of casting a ballot and having it counted.

X said its election safeguards cover attempts to suppress turnout, meaning discouraging or preventing people from voting, and acts of voter intimidation, meaning threats or pressure aimed at voters. It said that includes calls for violence near polling stations, where people cast their votes in person.

Users can report election-related posts on the platform through a civic integrity option when reporting a post. X said a report through that channel can request a community note, which provides context appearing alongside the post in question.