How China is using spamouflage to influence US voters [Video]

If you’ve ever logged on to TikTok, X, or another social media platform, you may have come across one of the world’s largest online influence operations without even realizing it.

Dubbed “spamouflage” for its attempts to covertly sandwich propaganda in between otherwise normal, everyday content, this Chinese-linked operation uses fake social media accounts to promote pro-China narratives while disparaging the West.

Social media analytics firm Graphika has been tracking spamouflage since 2019. In their new report, Graphika detailed how the operation has become more aggressive in its efforts to infiltrate and sway U.S. political conversations ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Graphika discovered 15 spamouflage accounts on X and one on TikTok, all claiming to be U.S. voters or U.S.-focused advocates frustrated with American politics and the West. They also found one cross-platform persona operating as a fake U.S. news outlet. The accounts shared videos, memes and other content criticizing candidates, …