Chinese influence operation on US elections

24/10/2024 6:14

        An army of Chinese-controlled social
        media bots is attempting to influence voters in Alabama, Texas
        and Tennessee, while denigrating U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of
        Florida, according to new research published on Wednesday by
        Microsoft.
        
        The operation represents a coordinated interference effort
        against down-ballot races, experts say, in which the fake
        accounts are denigrating U.S. Representative Barry Moore of
        Alabama, U.S. Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, Tennessee
        U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and Rubio, all Republicans.
        
        The troll network has “parroted antisemitic messages,
        amplified accusations of corruption and promoted opposition
        candidates,” according to Microsoft.
        
        The group responsible is known as Taizi Flood, which has
        been previously associated with China’s Ministry of Public
        Security, researchers say. The lawmakers were each targeted
        because they had denounced Chinese government policies
        historically, the report notes.
        
        A spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington said China
        "has no intention and will not interfere in the U.S. election"
        and that such claims are "full of malicious speculations."
        
        Among other things, the bots criticized Moore’s support for
        Israel and used antisemitic language. Another collective of
        related accounts claimed Rubio was part of a financial
        corruption scheme.
        
        The bots amplified support for Blackburn’s election rival
        while spreading claims she took money from pharmaceutical
        companies. With McCaul, they pushed narratives that he engaged
        in insider trading.
        
        Moore, McCaul and Blackburn are all running for reelection
        next month. Rubio, who serves as vice chair of the Senate
        intelligence committee, is not up for reelection until 2028.
        
        The Microsoft researchers found the influence effort did not
        result “in high levels of engagement.” The report did not
        provide any metrics for how many Americans viewed the relevant
        social media posts.
        
        A spokesperson for Moore, Madison Green, said his office was
        aware of the campaign.
        
        “We know that the CCP is antisemitic, so it isn’t surprising
        that they are targeting me and other politicians who support
        Israel to try to sow division in advance of the most important
        election in our lifetime,” said Moore, referring to the Chinese
        Communist Party.
        
        “China has made it clear they will use every weapon in their
        arsenal, including offensive cyber capabilities, to try and
        destroy democracy across the world,” he added.
        
        In an emailed statement, McCaul said he considered the
        targeting a "badge of honor" as he's made "standing up to the
        CCP a central part of my career."
        
        Spokespeople for the other two lawmakers did not immediately
        respond to a request for comment.
        
        The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which
        is coordinating the federal effort to defend the election from
        foreign influence, did not immediately respond to a request for
        comment.