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Spamouflage Dragon: Chinese social media is overrun with counterfeit Trump fans aiming to sway US elections
Numerous troll farms in China have been generating false profiles on social media platforms, impersonating supporters of Donald Trump. These profiles then distribute a range of speculations, disinformation, and conspiracy theories about Joe Biden, Democrats, and even Republicans, belittling them.
In 2016, Russia meddled in the US Presidential elections, primarily through manipulation of social media. However, in 2024, it appears that China has followed in Russia's footsteps, but with even more intensity.
American researchers and government officials recently disclosed a concerning trend: clandestine Chinese profiles are masquerading as American advocates for ex-President Donald J. Trump. These profiles are not only propagating conspiracy theories but also heightening internal conflicts and initiating assaults on President Biden, all in the lead up to the forthcoming November election.
This suggests a possible shift in Beijing's approach to impacting US politics. Similar to Russia's strategies prior to the 2016 election, it appears that China is taking advantage of the political rift between Democrats and Republicans to destabilize the policies of the Biden administration.
Several of these Chinese profiles feign fervent support for Trump, with one even asserting to be "MAGA all the way!!" while disseminating misleading data about Biden. Experts have conveyed astonishment at the intricate nature of this scheme, highlighting that never before have Chinese profiles so persuasively masqueraded as American Trump advocates.
This operation has been connected to an established network of accounts tied to the Chinese government, often referred to as Spamouflage or Spamouflage Dragon. These accounts were known for sharing content favoring Beijing in Mandarin, but recently, they began masquerading as authentic Americans, writing in American English.
Moreover, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies has pinpointed 170 counterfeit Facebook pages and accounts that are promoting anti-American sentiments, including assaults on President Biden. These campaigns have successfully garnered authentic interactions and are becoming progressively challenging for analysts to detect.
The overall political motive behind these campaigns remains ambiguous. However, there are worries that China may favor another term of Trump's presidency over Biden's, despite occasional conflicts between Trump and China.
The American government is growing increasingly concerned about China's activities. In February, the National Intelligence Director's Office revealed that China is intensifying its efforts to undermine US supremacy and democratic system through influence campaigns. There is apprehension that China might employ advanced tactics to manipulate US elections and suppress detractors of China.
As the November polls draw nearer, specialists in online misinformation are becoming more and more worried. Russia persists in its use of underhanded manipulation strategies in the US, disseminating propaganda in the midst of its clash with Ukraine. The fight against fake stories and conspiracy theories is made even more difficult by the decline in regulation measures on social media sites and political resistance.
Past endeavors by China to promote its beliefs in the Western world have faced difficulties. However, their latest strategies aim to take advantage of the current rifts in American politics. They have been participating in polarizing discussions on topics like gay rights, immigration, and crime, primarily from a conservative viewpoint.
In 2023, Meta made a statement regarding their largest ever removal of accounts, all under the control of an entity they refer to as "Spamouflage Dragon." Meta has linked this group to the Chinese Communist Party. The researchers at Meta discovered posts from this group on 50 different social media sites. In addition, Google revealed that it had eliminated 160,000 accounts connected to this group, which they have dubbed "Dragonbridge."
Efforts to eliminate them have not stopped fraudulent accounts from reappearing. The FBI reports that China has escalated its online harassment of dissidents, including instances of stalking and physical intimidation.
In 2023, it was disclosed by American authorities the way they unearthed the operations of a Chinese internet troll factory. In addition, they leveled charges against 34 officials from China's national police force for intimidating residents of the US. The prosecutors claimed that a section of China's Public Safety Ministry was responsible for managing the troll factory, which was assigned to target critics and spread divisive propaganda within the United States.
Lately, the team has undergone a transformation, utilizing AI-created characters to give their profiles a more authentic feel, and employing deepfake news presenters to distribute false stories, as stated by Graphika.
In February, an account linked to China disseminated a discredited video accusing Biden of having ties in Ukraine. The post garnered attention when shared by Alex Jones, a well-known purveyor of conspiracy theories. Notwithstanding efforts to seem genuine, the account's profile picture was stolen from a blog owned by a man from Denmark.
These disclosures highlight the immediate requirement for alertness against foreign meddling and disinformation campaigns. Given that democracy is on the line, it's vital to stay sharp when dealing with online trickery. As the voting process approaches, it's essential for authorities and social media networks to step up their attempts to spot and neutralize these misleading tactics.
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