- Chinese social media accounts are spreading disinformation ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
- These accounts mirror previous Russian tactics, sowing doubt about American leadership and democracy.
- Trump approved a 2019 CIA operation aimed at negatively influencing Chinese social media.
Chinese social media accounts are increasingly spreading disinformation as the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches in November.
The New York Times reported Monday that the U.S. government and researchers are warning about the digital threat and how it mirrors past Russian tactics.
The report describes several accounts linked to the Chinese government – sometimes called “Spamoflage” – posing as staunch Republicans and fans of former President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, with some accusing Democratic President Joe Biden of being a ” Satanist pedophile.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s “Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community,” released in February, warned that the People’s Republic of China had “increased its capabilities to conduct covert influence operations and spreading disinformation.”
“The PRC aims to sow doubt about U.S. leadership, undermine democracy, and expand Beijing’s influence,” the report said. “Beijing’s growing efforts to actively exploit perceived US societal divisions using its online personas bring it closer to Moscow’s model of influence operations.”
As ODNI noted, this wouldn’t be the first time foreign actors have attempted to interfere in U.S. elections through covert social media tactics. In 2016, Russian troll farms relentlessly posted election-related disinformation on Facebook, Twitter (now X), YouTube, Instagram, and even Pokémon Go.
The ODNI report also notes that the spread of disinformation may not stop even if the Chinese government tries to stop it.
“Even if Beijing imposes limits on these activities, individuals not under its direct supervision may attempt electoral influence activities that they view as consistent with Beijing’s objectives.”
The US government has some experience with its own interference in foreign social networks.
In March, Reuters reported that Trump had authorized a CIA program to spread unflattering narratives about the Chinese government on Chinese social media.
businessinsider
