Pro-China network of fake social media accounts gaining traction online: report

A pro-China network that uses social media platforms and fake accounts to spread Chinese propaganda is starting to gain traction online. 

Graphika reported on the network, nicknamed “Spamouflage.” The goal of the network is to demonize the U.S. and Hong Kong pro-Democracy movements while promoting China.

The network, which used to be filled with fake accounts, is now being noticed by influencers and other officials in places like the United Kingdom, Latin America, Pakistan and Hong Kong.

“In the past three months Spamouflage has been amplified by, among others, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, a Pakistani politician, a senior figure at Huawei Europe, UK commentator and former member of parliament George Galloway, and four YouTube channels for Chinese viewers with tens of thousands of followers,” the report says.

The network began attacking the U.S. for its COVID-19 response last year and started making videos against the U.S. in English. The network has also made videos trying to get people to doubt the safety of the coronavirus vaccine in the U.S. 

It has also used the recent Capitol attack to tell its followers how weak the U.S. is, calling the riot a “beautiful sight to behold.”

“The overall message is: America is doing very badly. China is doing very well,” Ben Nimmo, head of investigations for Graphika, told The Associated Press. “Who do you want to be like?”

YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, the network’s main social media platforms, have taken down the network’s content before, but it keeps coming back.

The network seems to be targeting areas of conflict between China and the U.S., such as Hong Kong and Taiwan. 

Although the traction the network is gaining is small, the report said the effort the network is exerting makes it noteworthy.