As the US election day approaches, the US intelligence agencies have issued a warning that foreign adversaries are spreading rumors online not only targeting the presidential election but also aiming to influence state and local elections in an attempt to undermine the US democratic system.
According to a report from The Washington Post on Thursday, senior US intelligence officials revealed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is increasingly engaging in disruptive activities targeting local elections in the United States. The CCP is using fake accounts on social media to spread conspiracy theories about political figures, some of which are incendiary, divisive, and even contain anti-Semitic remarks.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) has been closely monitoring foreign interference in US elections. A report released by the DNI’s office on Monday stated that both China and Russia are not only attempting to interfere in the US presidential election but also engaging in activities to assist or undermine specific congressional candidates, disrupt state and local elections, and intensify the dissemination of false information online.
The Washington Post cited Kenton Thibaut, a senior researcher at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, who said, “We see (the CCP) working to spread virally and delve deeply into local issues. It’s like moving from shotgun to sniper attack tactics.”
The CCP targets US congressional candidates from both parties based on their positions on critical issues related to China, Taiwan, and other important matters. US intelligence officials stated that they have observed direct intervention by CCP misinformation agencies in “dozens” of local elections.
One of the focal points of a covert influence operation was aimed at Republican Congressman Barry Moore, who is running for re-election to hold his seat in the House of Representatives. An analysis of thousands of posts on the social media platform X by The Washington Post revealed that about 75 posts were related to Moore.
Moore has previously co-sponsored the “Defund China’s Allies Act” along with other lawmakers, a bill that would prohibit the US from providing diplomatic aid to countries that sever ties with Taiwan and align with the CCP. He has also advocated for sanctions against CCP officials.
One X account wrote, “What got Barry Moore to win? Those darn Jewish financiers! Just because he supports evil Israel.”
Researchers from the New York-based network tracking company Graphika stated that the X accounts spreading rumors operate under the guise of “Spamouflage.”
These deceptive information campaigns, branded Spamouflage, merge the concepts of “spam” and “camouflage.” The action, sometimes referred to as “Dragonbridge,” combines spam messages with targeted propaganda and disseminates them across the internet.
“Spamouflage” is a well-documented key tactic in the CCP’s covert influence operations, often utilizing various distribution techniques to disseminate CCP narratives online. According to data from Graphika, Spamouflage has been active since at least 2017, spreading false information across over fifty websites, forums, and social media platforms.
Recent activities highlight a shift in CCP strategy as they actively seek to influence popular political issues in the US, moving away from merely promoting CCP propaganda.