Chinese Propaganda Campaign Exposed: Investigation Reveals Coordinated Fake Network

In a significant cybersecurity revelation, researchers have uncovered a sophisticated network of over 350 fake social media accounts orchestrating a coordinated campaign to promote pro-China narratives while discrediting perceived opponents of the Chinese government.

The extensive investigation by the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) details how this network operates across major platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. According to the report, the primary objective appears to be delegitimizing Western nations while simultaneously enhancing China’s image and influence globally.

These fake accounts have been particularly focused on circulating provocative cartoons targeting high-profile critics of China, including exiled Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui, virologist Li-Meng Yan, and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon. Ironically, these individuals have themselves faced accusations of spreading misinformation, particularly regarding COVID-19.

Benjamin Strick, the author of the CIR report, explained: “The aim of the network appears to be to delegitimize the West by amplifying pro-Chinese narratives.”

The investigation found striking similarities between this network and the previously identified “Spamouflage Dragon” propaganda operation documented by social analytics firm Graphika. Ira Hubert, a senior investigative analyst at Graphika, noted that the operation showed “no ‘honeymoon’ in the first months of the Biden administration,” maintaining “a steady mix of anti-US content” that portrayed America negatively in various contexts.

Much of the content shared by the network strategically exploits divisive issues within the United States, including gun violence, racial tensions, and human rights concerns. Posts frequently reference the murder of George Floyd and discrimination against Asian Americans to paint the US as hypocritical on human rights issues.

Simultaneously, the accounts regularly deny allegations of human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region, where reports indicate at least one million Muslims have been detained against their will. These accounts dismiss such reports as “lies fabricated by the United States and the West.”

The network employs sophisticated technological deception, with many accounts using AI-generated profile pictures created by StyleGAN. These computer-generated faces cannot be detected through traditional reverse image searches, making them particularly difficult to identify as fake. Researchers found telltale signs of these synthetic images, including consistently aligned eyes, blurred hair edges, and irregularly angled teeth.

Other accounts in the network appear to have been hijacked after periods of dormancy. For example, YouTube accounts that previously posted content in English or German suddenly began sharing Chinese-language content from state broadcasters after lying dormant for years.

The CIR utilized several methods to identify this network, including mapping hashtags favored by previously identified influence operations and looking for accounts with suspiciously high propaganda activity. They also flagged newly created profiles, randomly generated usernames, and accounts with minimal followers.

While there is no conclusive evidence directly linking these operations to the Chinese government, the tactics and narratives closely mirror those used in previous campaigns attributed to state-backed actors. The network’s content aligns with messaging promoted by Chinese state representatives and media outlets.

In response to the investigation, Facebook has removed the identified accounts from its platform, acknowledging that they had previously taken down a similar network in September 2019 that posted “lifestyle and political clickbait, primarily in Chinese.” YouTube has also terminated accounts violating its community guidelines, while Twitter has removed most of the identified profiles and is continuing its investigation.

This revelation comes amid growing concerns about China’s expanding international influence operations and the increasing sophistication of state-sponsored disinformation campaigns globally.