In volatile election season, US companies battle 'brand disinformation'
Google to Netflix, prominent US companies are battling internet boycott calls over their perceived political leanings in a polarising election season that has exposed them to what researchers call "brand disinformation."
The online campaigns, which falsely claim both Netflix and Google are funding or favoring Democratic nominee Kamala Harris ahead of the November election, illustrate how brands are vulnerable to political falsehoods that can expose them to financial perils.
Those calling for a boycott, researchers say, include fake accounts on the platform X. The site is owned by Elon Musk, who has endorsed Donald Trump and appears to exert an outsized influence on voters through the platform, which has become a hotbed of disinformation.
The recent boycott calls targeting Netflix, which also spread on other platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, were triggered by false claims of a $7 million donation from the streaming service to Harris's campaign, AFP fact-checkers reported.
Reed Hastings, the service's co-founder and executive chairman, made a contribution to Vice President Harris's campaign but the company said it was a «personal donation» and had «no connection to Netflix.»
Still, calls to «cancel Netflix» flooded social media sites, with many users falsely claiming the company was indirectly funding the Harris campaign. Some shared screenshots of their canceled subscriptions.
Nearly a quarter of the boycott calls on X were traced to fake profiles, which have consistently expressed support for Trump
