Election meddling is not a new phenomenon in this country. Chinese operatives are posing as American voters on social media. They are targeting both Republicans and Democrats in the hopes of inciting discord. Several of these social media accounts have been suspended. The campaign seems to have had limited success.
Unmasking Spam: China’s Covert Online Influence Operation
As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, a sophisticated Chinese influence operation dubbed “Spamouflage” has been discovered, targeting American voters via social media platforms. This extensive network, which is linked to Chinese state efforts, has been active since at least 2017 and has recently increased its activities, raising concerns among US security officials about possible election interference.
Spamouflage, also known as Dragonbridge, creates thousands of fake accounts on over 50 websites, forums, and social media platforms. These accounts resemble American users, appealing to both Republicans and Democrats, and spread divisive messages about hot-button issues like the Gaza war, homelessness, gun control, and racial inequality.
Spamouflage, a sprawling Chinese multiplatform influence operation, has persisted over many years despite numerous attempts by social media companies to delete thousands of accounts associated with this malign influence campaign.
Read all about it here:https://t.co/cxBRC5Ph34
— FDD's Center on Cyber & Technology Innovation (@FDD_CCTI) September 28, 2024
Tactics and targets are evolving.
The campaign’s tactics have evolved significantly since its inception. Spamouflage was initially focused on posting generic pro-China content, but has since shifted to amplifying existing criticisms of American society and government. This change in strategy demonstrates the operation’s adaptability and increasing sophistication.
“One of the world’s largest covert online influence operations—an operation run by Chinese state actors—has become more aggressive in its efforts to infiltrate and sway U.S. political conversations ahead of the election,” said Jack Stubbs, Graphika’s chief intelligence officer, to The Associated Press.
Spamouflage’s tactics were exemplified by the Harlan Report, a social media account purporting to be run by a New Yorker and Army veteran named Harlan. The account’s profile, which includes its age and location, has changed over time, and its profile picture is thought to be AI-generated. This deceptive persona gained popularity by claiming to expose government corruption, demonstrating the operation’s ability to create convincing false identities.
Our latest from the @scrippsnews Disinformation Desk:
Social media analytics firm Graphika's tracking a Chinese-linked influence operation dubbed "spamouflage" that's attempting to infiltrate & sway U.S. political convos ahead of the 2024 prez electionhttps://t.co/UdHXGw5NhR— Elizabeth Landers (@ElizLanders) September 3, 2024
Impact and effectiveness
Despite its size and sophistication, Spamouflage has had limited success in engaging American audiences. Many of the fake accounts do not gain much traction, highlighting the difficulties that such influence operations face. However, there have been notable exceptions. A TikTok account linked to the Harlan Report received 1.5 million views on a video mocking President Biden before it was removed from the platform.
Social media giants, including X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, have taken action by suspending thousands of accounts linked to Spamouflage. Facebook has gone a step further, attributing the campaign to Chinese law enforcement and describing it as the largest known cross-platform covert influence operation.
Broader Implications and Concerns
Spamouflage is part of a larger trend of foreign influence operations aimed at US political debates via social media. While China’s efforts have primarily focused on issues of importance to Beijing, such as US policy toward Taiwan, rather than supporting specific presidential candidates, the changing nature of these operations raises concerns about future election interference.
The United States government is actively investigating foreign interference in the upcoming election. While China has officially denied any intention to interfere, cybersecurity experts warn that foreign governments are improving at hiding their involvement in influence operations, often outsourcing to third-party firms.
Sources:
