China-linked 'Spamouflage' network mimics Americans online to sway US political debate

As voters prepare to cast their ballots in the November election, U.S. adversaries like China are making their own plans. A network of fake accounts designed to mimic Americans was recently revealed by researchers at the online analysis firm Graphika. Graphika linked the network to a well-known Chinese disinformation operation. The group posted relatively little original content and instead reposted misleading and incendiary claims, often about topics like crime, racism and the war in Gaza. Rather than support one presidential candidate over another, the fake network focused on broader attacks to undermine faith in American democracy. The network is dubbed Spamouflage for its habit of spreading large amounts of seemingly unrelated content along with disinformation and propaganda.