  In this study, we characterize the cross-platform mobilization of YouTube and
BitChute videos on Twitter during the 2020 U.S. Election fraud discussions.
Specifically, we extend the VoterFraud2020 dataset to describe the prevalence
of content supplied by both platforms, the mobilizers of that content, the
suppliers of that content, and the content itself. We find that while BitChute
videos promoting election fraud claims were linked to and engaged with in the
Twitter discussion, they played a relatively small role compared to YouTube
videos promoting fraud claims. This core finding points to the continued need
for proactive, consistent, and collaborative content moderation solutions
rather than the reactive and inconsistent solutions currently being used.
Additionally, we find that cross-platform disinformation spread from video
platforms was not prominently from bot accounts or political elites, but rather
average Twitter users. This finding supports past work arguing that research on
disinformation should move beyond a focus on bots and trolls to a focus on
participatory disinformation spread.
