Chinese "Spamouflage" Influence Operation Uses Fake U.S. Voter Personas

Summary

Researchers at Graphika identified a Chinese state‑linked influence campaign, dubbed “Spamouflage,” that created a network of fake social‑media accounts impersonating U.S. voters, soldiers and a news outlet. The operation posted divisive content on X, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook ahead of the 2024 presidential election, targeting topics such as reproductive rights, homelessness, Ukraine and Israel. Meta linked the network to Chinese law‑enforcement, while TikTok removed one of the accounts for policy violations after a video mocking President Biden amassed 1.5 million views. The campaign illustrates China’s use of deceptive online behavior to portray the United States as politically unstable.