Is Your Favourite Political Influencer Real? 'Ghost Creators' Are Paid to Read AI Scripts Attacking Democrats

Ghost creators are online personas that make social media accounts appear as independent news or commentary channels. In reality, real people appear on camera, reading scripts that seem to be generated or AI-assisted. Semafor and Riddance AI uncovered a network of such channels that predominantly target Democratic politicians with sensationalised political content.

Riddance AI identified more than a dozen connected YouTube channels and said the network had amassed more than 45 million views and 90,000 comments by mid-August 2026. Researchers found shared music, websites, account links, and repeated script segments, and concluded that the accounts were likely connected. The team also found a TikTok clipping network in which dozens of accounts circulated video clips.

The use of real presenters made the videos harder to identify as AI-assisted content. Riddance AI said the network appeared to pair real actors with scripted material. However, researchers did not know for certain whether a political organisation or another third party commissioned the content.

How the Accounts Were Made

Semafor and Riddance AI traced one network back to Caleb Chan and linked it to Virelox, a company Chan said he co-founded. Chan has promoted Virelox as a platform that can create creator accounts and produce viral content. He has also described a system in which clients hire Virelox to create channels while paid presenters read scripted videos.

Virelox and broker Casgains posted casting advertisements for people to appear in news-style YouTube videos. One Virelox listing offered $26 per video and described the work as long-term and high volume, requiring an on-camera spokesperson. Chan also said he had built a media operation with 97 news anchors, editors, and scriptwriters.

Researchers analysed 622 transcripts from the network. Zohran Mamdani was the most frequently targeted politician, while the team also identified attacks on figures including Gavin Newsom and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Many videos discussed real events but used highly exaggerated or fabricated titles and claims.

Some presenters used names or identities that did not match their real identities. Riddance AI and Semafor identified 'Omar' as video creator Kareem M. Maize and 'William' as actor Frank George. Maize acknowledged giving false information about where he was based, while George confirmed that he was paid to make the videos and said Casgains handled the work.

Why The Videos Reached So Many People

Riddance AI said the commenters appeared largely genuine, although researchers could not completely rule out an inauthentic commenting network. Analytics from four accounts showed similar audiences. About 80% of viewers were men and about 80% were over 55. The accounts were Victoria Foster, Omar Reacts, Julian Reports, and William Reports News.

Why YouTube Removed the Channels

On 3 September 2026, YouTube said it had terminated 20 channels linked to the reporting. The company said 13 were named in Semafor's report and seven were related channels, all of which violated its spam policies.

YouTube's spam policy covers coordinated networks and the mass production of repetitive content using automated tools or AI. Viewers may need to examine the source rather than rely only on what appears on screen.

What Viewers Can Check

A real person on screen does not prove that an account represents an independent newsroom. Viewers can check the account's website, social media profiles, and other channels for shared names, links, presenters, and content patterns.

For UK readers, these checks can help when unfamiliar US political videos appear online. Checking who runs an account, and whether a claim has an identifiable source, can provide useful context.