Covert Chinese Accounts Masquerading Online as American Trump Supporters, Promoting Conspiracy Theories and Attacking President Biden Ahead of Election
In a startling revelation, researchers and government officials have uncovered a disturbing trend of covert Chinese accounts posing as American supporters of former President Donald J. Trump online. These accounts are actively promoting conspiracy theories, stoking domestic divisions, and launching attacks on President Biden in the lead-up to the November election.
This tactic marks a potential shift in how Beijing seeks to influence American politics, with a focus on targeting specific candidates and parties, including Mr. Biden. The accounts, reminiscent of Russia’s influence campaign before the 2016 election, aim to exploit partisan divisions to undermine the Biden administration’s policies.
Some of these Chinese accounts are impersonating fervent Trump fans, with one account claiming to be “MAGA all the way!!” while spreading false information about Mr. Biden. The accounts have been successful in attracting genuine engagement, raising concerns among researchers about their effectiveness.
The effort has raised alarms within the American government, with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence reporting China’s expanding influence campaigns aimed at undermining democracy and extending Beijing’s influence. Experts are growing increasingly anxious about the months leading up to the election, as disinformation campaigns become more sophisticated and difficult to combat.
Despite previous struggles to gain traction in the West, China’s recent efforts to influence American politics have taken a more subtle and sophisticated approach. By exploiting existing divisions and promoting divisive issues from a right-wing perspective, these accounts are attempting to sway public opinion in favor of their agenda.
As the November election approaches, experts warn of the growing threat posed by foreign influence campaigns. Efforts to combat false narratives and conspiracy theories must contend with evolving tactics, including the use of fake personas and the spread of misinformation across multiple platforms.
The persistence of China’s influence efforts, despite attempts by social media platforms to take down inauthentic accounts, underscores the ongoing challenge of combating disinformation online. With the stakes high and the tactics evolving, the battle against foreign interference in American politics is far from over.
