Crowdfunding (as) disinformation: ‘Pitching’ 5G and election fraud campaigns on GoFundMe

Abstract

This paper argues that the current disinformation studies literature lacks any sustained analysis of a crucial element in any communication campaign – its sources of funding. The paper argues that crowdfunding platforms are arguably better networked and ‘cross platform enabled’ than most social media sites to spread disinformation. And that disinformation actors have weaponized crowdfunding to amplify and sustain the spread of their grievances and forms of disinformation. The paper offers a rich qualitative study of a set of election fraud and 5G themed campaigns on the GoFundMe crowdfunding platform. The study questions how networked content and financial appeals in the crowdfunding pitch can contribute to the disinformation literature and potential solutions.