Pro-China influence campaign is targeting US midterms: Report
Al JazeeraNov 18, 2022
The Facts
On Wednesday, Google-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant released a report claiming that a pro-China online influence campaign is seeking to discredit US democracy and discourage voting in the November midterm elections.
The report claims to have found fake accounts across the internet that spread pro-China messaging, criticisms of American democracy, and videos allegedly from Americans downplaying the effectiveness of voting.
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
Despite Dragonbridge's lack of success, it may mark a new phase in foreign adversaries' use of disinformation. While not directly linked to Beijing, its pro-China crusade leaves little room for doubt over its origination. Given China's widespread cyber intrusions, future Chinese disinformation campaigns should be a significant concern for the rest of the world as tensions continue to rise with the West.
Pro-China narrative
This so-called report is yet another attempt to peddle Washington's hypocritical, dangerous, and false agenda. While pretending to seek world order, the US is clutching to a Cold War mentality that villainizes countries that don't embrace its mandates. Unlike the West, China doesn't seek to export its system to other countries, and its influence has been gained by legitimate growth.