The Chinese communist regime’s disinformation networks on social media are using fake user accounts to impersonate Americans, denigrate U.S. candidates, and push divisive messages ahead of the November presidential election in the United States, according to a Sept. 3 report by New York-based intelligence company Graphika.
The social media influence operation is part of the Chinese regime’s disinformation campaign, which analysts have dubbed “Spamouflage” or “Dragonbridge.”
The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) campaign has been tracked by Graphika since 2019 and is known for spreading large amounts of unrelated content alongside disinformation, according to researchers. It is active across more than 40 online platforms “where it employs inauthentic accounts to seed and amplify videos and cartoons that promote pro-China and anti-Western narratives,” according to the report.
As the U.S. election approaches, Spamouflage has expanded its use of fake online personas that “impersonate U.S. voters or U.S.-based social media users,” researchers said.
The firm found 15 Spamouflage accounts on social media platform X and one on TikTok. The accounts impersonate “U.S. citizens and/or U.S.-focused peace, human rights, and information integrity advocates frustrated by American politics and the West,” according to the report.
One of the fake users had accounts on TikTok and X, as well as a now-deactivated Instagram account and youtube channel, the research revealed.
“This activity is just a fraction of the larger Spamouflage network but is distinct from the operation’s typical use of low-quality inauthentic accounts with generic and thinly developed personas,” according to the report.
Jack Stubbs, Graphika’s chief intelligence officer, said that Spamouflage is “one of the world’s largest covert online influence operations—an operation run by Chinese state actors—[and] has become more aggressive in its efforts to infiltrate and sway U.S. political conversations ahead of the election.”
Researchers said in their report that these fake accounts mimicking Americans are focused on divisive political topics such as gun control, racial issues homelessness ,and Israel’s war in Gaza ahead of future elections
Meta (parent company facebook) said it had removed Spamouflage activity from its platforms last year after identifying links between individuals associated with Chinese law enforcement agencies backing this network
X suspended several linked-accounts while TikTok also removed those connected with this network
In July this year US Office Director National Intelligence reported China was approaching US Presidential Election cautiously without planning any direct influence over outcome but tracking efforts influencing US public broadly
Retired Taiwanese Maj Gen Yu Tsung-chi stated no matter who comes into power Democrats or Republicans both will take tougher stance against CCP
Tseng Yisuo an associate researcher at cyber security division Institute National Defense Security Research Taiwan stated CCP does not support specific party or candidate but targets both Republican Democratic camps through influence operations incitement creating division society