Meta’s report reveals China as the third most common source of foreign influence operations on social media, behind Russia and Iran.
China is intensifying its efforts to manipulate social media users in other countries, making it the third most significant source of foreign influence operations, according to a report by Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Meta has identified and taken down five Chinese networks of fake accounts in 2023, marking a significant increase from previous years. The targets of these Chinese operations span sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, Europe, and the United States, with campaigns focusing on promoting Chinese interests and attacking government critics. While China’s influence operations have struggled to gain an authentic audience, their growing presence raises concerns about the global threat landscape.
China’s Varied Tactics in Influence Operations
Meta’s report highlights the diverse tactics employed by China-based networks in their influence operations. These tactics range from creating small operations that build personas to using large, spammy networks. Despite the origin in China, the common denominator among these campaigns is their struggle to gain an authentic audience. This lack of traction has limited the effectiveness of China’s influence operations compared to those of Russia and Iran.
Recent Chinese Operations Targeting the U.S., Tibet, and India
Meta’s recent takedowns of China-based operations shed light on the specific targets and strategies employed. One operation involved around 4,800 Facebook accounts impersonating Americans and posting about domestic politics and U.S.-China relations. These accounts copied and pasted posts from American politicians, spanning both political parties. The intention behind this approach remains unclear, whether to amplify partisan tensions, build audiences among supporters of these politicians, or make fake accounts appear more genuine. The other operation, smaller but more sophisticated, consisted of 13 Facebook accounts and seven groups targeting Tibet and India. These accounts posed as journalists, lawyers, and human rights activists, posting about regional news, sports, culture, and criticizing the Dalai Lama and the Indian government.
Attribution Challenges and Future Threats
Meta did not attribute the China-based networks to a specific actor in China. In the past, the company has attributed disrupted operations to the Chinese government, IT firms, and Chinese law enforcement. Looking ahead, with numerous elections scheduled for 2024, including in the U.S., Taiwan, India, and the European Union, Chinese operations may pivot to target discussions of relations with China in these places. This adds to the expected operations by Russia and Iran. Heightened partisan tensions can play into the hands of foreign threat actors, emphasizing the need for political groups and individuals to be deliberate when engaging with political content online.
Russia’s Ongoing Influence Operations
Meta’s report also highlights Russia as the most prolific source of coordinated influence operations. Russia’s focus has primarily been on undermining international support for Ukraine since its invasion in 2022. However, a Russian operation known as Doppelganger has recently launched websites focused on American and European politics and elections. These websites question U.S. democracy and portray the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel as proof of American decline. Meta is taking action to block these websites from its platforms and is sharing the full list of Doppelganger-linked domains with other companies.
Conclusion:
China’s increasing efforts to manipulate social media users in other countries, as revealed by Meta’s report, raise concerns about the global threat landscape. While China ranks third behind Russia and Iran in terms of foreign influence operations, its tactics vary widely, making it challenging to combat. As the world approaches a series of crucial elections in 2024, the potential for foreign interference grows, necessitating vigilance and deliberate engagement with political content online. The ongoing influence operations by Russia further emphasize the need for continued collaboration between tech companies, government agencies, and civil society to counter these threats effectively.
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