Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign has suddenly become entangled in a growing controversy over alleged paid social media promotion.
The scandal calls into question the authenticity of Harris’ online support — and opens potential foreign influence in U.S. elections.
At the center of the storm is LaunchViral, a company reportedly offering social media users $150 to post positive content about Harris on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
The company’s instructions to content creators include using specific hashtags and encouraging followers to support Harris, which critics say could be undisclosed political advertising — and a violation of campaign finance laws.
The controversy deepened when it was revealed that LaunchViral uses software from High Level, a company with financial ties to General Atlantic, which in turn has connections to Sequoia China, a CCP-backed entity.
This connection has led to accusations that Harris’s campaign is indirectly utilizing CCP-linked technology to manufacture the appearance of grassroots support.
LaunchViral’s CEO, Rick Schirmer, responded to the allegations, stating, “We’re essentially professional matchmakers for brands and targeted niche community influencers.”
He claimed that influencers are typically compensated for their posts and are required to disclose this to their audience, especially in political content.
Critics argue that this practice creates a misleading impression of Harris’s popularity — which could deceive young voters.
“Democrats are doing all this dystopian sh*t to influence the election,” by using the an “influencer dark network,” conservative commentator Chrissy Clark told The Daily Caller.
The scandal has caught the attention of high-profile political figures, with former President Donald Trump sharing a report on the issue on his Truth Social platform.
The situation has also sparked a broader debate about the ethics of political campaigning in the digital age. While paid influencer marketing is common in commercial sectors, its use in politics without clear disclosure raises significant legal questions.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has guidelines requiring clear disclosure of sponsored content, but the application of these rules to political campaigns remains a gray area.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, this scandal highlights the lack of transparency in Harris’ campaign tactics — and the need for American voters to critically evaluate their dependence on social media.