U.S. campaigns and lobby groups are paying creators as little as $25 for midterm videos, Al Jazeera reported, while viewers may be unaware of the payments behind them.
Al Jazeera described the approach as inexpensive and quick to spread. It said opaque payment arrangements can leave audiences unaware that a video is intended to influence them. The $25 figure is a low-end payment cited for such content, not a standard rate.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) requires disclaimers on certain public communications. Its guidance covers internet messages placed or promoted for a fee on another person's website, digital device, application or advertising platform. Paying a creator does not, by itself, establish that a post falls under that rule.
The FEC identifies Nov. 3, 2026, as the next regularly scheduled federal general election.
