WATCH: Influencer's identity stolen to push pro-Trump messaging on X

Clarence Ford speaks to Barbara Friedman about what's trending online. 

(Skip to 1:24 on the audio player below to listen to this story.)

'Luna', a self-described 32-year-old 'MAGA Trump supporter' from the battleground state of Wisconsin, has gained a huge following since she joined X, in March, amassing nearly 30 000 followers on the platform.

'Luna' content centres around praising former President Donald Trump’s re-election bid while promoting conspiracy theories about his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Luna is not 'real.'

Reports reveal that 'Luna' is catfishing a content creator called Debbie Nederlof's image while promoting a strategic political message.

Debbie Nederlof (32) is a German fashion influencer/content creator, model, social media manager at an engineering company and a single mom.

Upon learning about her stolen identity and what it's being used for, Nederlof was 'angry and frustrated' that her face was used to push pro-Trump messaging on X and told CNN reporters, 'What the hell do I – from a small place in Germany – care about US politics?'

Nederlof is one of 17 real European women — fashion and beauty influencers from the Netherlands, Denmark and as far away as Russia — whose online photos have been stolen by unknown users/AI bots to promote Trump.

15 of the fake accounts have blue check marks – supposed to indicate that they have been verified – and eight of those have been identified as using stolen images.

Political campaigns have also used specific artists' music, faces and popular symbolism to aid their campaign messaging without permission which has not been received well by their creators.

Nederlof reacted to her stolen identity - watch the footage captured by CNN below.

"Of course the comments are completely polarised and it's just interesting," notes Friedman.

"I suppose the bottom line here is that whatever side you're on - is this really what the world has come to? That campaigns are being run by bots that steal pictures like this? I'm not quite sure what the world has come to but this is where we're at - I can only say try and cut through the mess."

- Barbara Friedman, Barb's Wire - CapeTalk

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.