China ‘spamouflage’ accounts attempt to stir chaos ahead of US election

Karah Rucker

AS THE 20-24 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DRAWS NEARER… CHINA IS STEPPING UP ITS ATTEMPTS TO INFLUENCE AMERICAN VOTERS’ DECISION.

A NEW REPORT SHOWS A RISE IN WHAT’S KNOWN AS “SPAMOUFLAGE” – WITH ACCOUNTS CLAIMING TO BE U-S VOTERS AND SOLDIERS POSTING ABOUT HOT-BUTTON ISSUES, INCLUDING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, U-S SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE, AND AMERICA’S POLICY TOWARD ISRAEL. 

THESE “SPAMOUFLAGE” ACCOUNTS CRITICIZE BOTH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS – AS WELL AS FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

RESEARCHERS SAY THEY SOMETIME EVEN USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOLS TO CREATE DIVISIVE CONTENT. 

IN ITS MOST RECENT ELECTION SECURITY UPDATE – THE U-S INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY SAID IN JULY CHINESE ACTORS ARE QUOTE “USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO SOW DIVISIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND PORTRAY DEMOCRACIES AS CHAOTIC.” 

WHILE RESEARCHERS SAID IN THIS CASE, NOT MUCH CAME OF THE SPAMOUFLAGING ATTEMPTS… IT’S PART OF A BROADER ISSUE OF FOREIGN ACTORS ATTEMPTING TO INTERFERE WITH THE U-S ELECTION. 

NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS HAVE SAID RUSSIA AND IRAN HAVE ALSO MOUNTED ONLINE INFLUENCE OPERATIONS TARGETING U-S VOTERS AHEAD OF NOVEMBER. 

THEY SAY RUSSIA REMAINS THE TOP THREAT… BUT IRAN HAS BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE IN RECENT MONTHS. 

IRAN HAS BEEN COVERTLY SUPPORTING U-S PROTESTS AGAINST THE WAR IN GAZA… AND HAS ATTEMPTED TO HACK INTO THE EMAIL SYSTEMS OF THE TWO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.