American intelligence officials said in a briefing to the media on September 23 that Russia, Iran, and the CCP are still the main foreign forces attempting to interfere in the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November and influence American voters. Among them, the CCP is utilizing artificial intelligence technology to amplify divisive rhetoric and content on issues such as drugs, immigration, and abortion, in order to deepen the internal divisions in the United States.
The Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence also issued a brief assessment summary, stating that the CCP is using artificial intelligence for broader influence operations to shape global perceptions of China and exacerbate political divisions within the United States, although these activities are not directly aimed at the election outcome. For example, pro-CCP internet proxies have used artificially generated fake news anchors and fake social media accounts with AI-generated profiles to sow discord on drug use, immigration, and abortion issues.
Independent analyst Sarah Cook, who has long focused on Chinese influence activities, mentioned in a recent analysis that since 2017, the CCP has increased its use of online information warfare, fake accounts, and disinformation to target the U.S. However, so far, the CCP has not attempted to directly influence the outcome of the presidential election.
Cook pointed out that the relative restraint of the CCP regime partly stems from a strong bipartisan consensus in Washington on the threat posed by the CCP authoritarian system and the policy continuity between the Biden and Trump administrations on this issue. However, this does not mean that the CCP will remain passive during the presidential election. Even if the CCP does not directly intervene in the election, Cook believes that from now until November 5th, and even after the election, the U.S. may still face CCP-related disinformation and manipulation activities aimed at interfering with the U.S. information environment and influencing voter perceptions.
Cook stated that the CCP’s goal is not to directly sway voter support for or against a particular presidential candidate, but rather to intervene in two ways: exacerbating political polarization within the U.S., spreading distrust in the American democratic system, intervening in debates related to CCP policies, and attempting to smear the reputations of congressional candidates who criticize CCP policies or support Chinese dissidents.
In an interview with journalists from Epoch Times on September 29, political analyst Lan Shu, who resides in the U.S., stated that fostering societal divisions in the U.S. is a consistent strategy of the CCP and a part of its “unrestricted warfare” tactics. He mentioned that not only in the U.S. but also in Western democratic countries like Canada and Europe, the CCP is implementing similar actions. If a candidate takes a tough stance against the CCP, they will spread rumors to tarnish the candidate’s image and resort to various means to worsen their electoral prospects.
Lan said, “The CCP is employing a long-term strategy to weaken American social stability and comprehensive national strength by deepening divisions in American society.” He mentioned that in the past, the CCP’s tactics had some success in influencing U.S. election outcomes to a certain extent, but currently, their influence has significantly diminished. This is due to events such as the CCP imposing the National Security Law in Hong Kong, supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and concealing the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to significant shifts in Western societies’ policies towards China, with countries increasingly aligning on issues related to China. He added, “Therefore, the CCP’s previous methods are less effective now.”
Over the years, reports from academic research and technology companies have continued to uncover accounts related to the CCP and their agents collaborating to exacerbate social and political issues, even inciting real protests.
A study released by social media analysis company Graphika in early September disclosed that on the eve of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, a fake information group related to the CCP ramped up efforts to impersonate American voters. This group attempted to defame candidates in the U.S. election and spread divisive rhetoric on sensitive social issues.
Disguising spam emails as legitimate information, also known as “Spamouflage,” the group extensively disseminates false information and content online to influence the political atmosphere and public opinion of target countries. While Graphika’s researchers typically do not focus on U.S. elections or candidates, they noted that since mid-2023, related accounts have increasingly mimicked U.S. voters to criticize politicians and candidates.
According to the report, Graphika identified multiple accounts, including 15 accounts on X platform, one TikTok account, one Instagram account, and one YouTube channel. These accounts use AI-generated profile photos, patriotic images, and American identities to pose as disgruntled American voters. Much of the content aims to undermine public trust in the political system by portraying American politics as corrupt. The report noted that this content focuses on divisive topics such as the Gaza conflict, homelessness, gun control, and racial inequality, attempting to present them as evidence of the failure of the American political system and dampen voter turnout.
Graphika’s Chief Intelligence Officer Jack Stubbs stated that this phenomenon indicates the evolving nature of CCP’s influence operations in the U.S., employing more sophisticated deception techniques. He mentioned that these actions directly target sensitive social fault lines as part of the CCP’s strategy to interfere and influence discussions on politics and social issues prior to significant elections.
During a press conference in July, officials from the U.S. Foreign Malware Influence Center stated that the CCP’s actions during this U.S. election cycle appear to be “cautious.” CCP leaders believe that regardless of which party or presidential candidate wins, the U.S. may continue its policies confronting the CCP. The center, under the Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, is responsible for alerting the public to attempts by foreign entities to interfere in U.S. elections.
Intelligence officials also noted that foreign governments have become more adept at concealing their network influence operations, often outsourcing such activities to third-party commercial companies and exploring new methods, such as using American citizens for propaganda. At least one case suggests that the CCP has collaborated with a domestic Chinese technology company to enhance its covert influence operations, including producing content that resonates with local audiences more effectively.
Former Beijing lawyer and chairman of the Canadian Alliance for Democracy, Lai Jianping, told Epoch Times reporters that the CCP attempts to exploit and intensify societal divisions in the U.S. to further exacerbate ideological and interest conflicts for its benefit. The CCP also uses this strategy to indoctrinate its domestic populace, attempting to discredit the American democratic system and prove the so-called “superiority” of its own authoritarian model.