Fake US voters? China-linked accounts flood X with divisive posts ahead of midterms

A China-linked influence operation known as Spamouflage is active ahead of the US midterm elections, with accounts allegedly posing as American voters and circulating divisive political content on X. The findings were reported by New York-based social media intelligence firm Graphika, which tracks online influence networks.In a blog post published on Friday, Graphika said it had identified a network of accounts linked to the long-running operation that were posting content targeting US politics, social issues and the electoral process. The activity, it said, closely resembled tactics documented ahead of the 2024 US presidential election.“The accounts post content questioning election integrity and the legitimacy of US democracy,” Graphika said in its blog.The findings come amid longstanding warnings from US intelligence and national security officials about foreign influence operations targeting American voters. Russia, China and Iran have previously been identified as countries running online campaigns aimed at shaping political narratives and influencing public opinion.However, analysts, quoted by news agency AP, have said China's approach has largely focused on undermining public confidence in US democratic institutions rather than supporting one presidential candidate over another.China has rejected allegations of election interference. Liu Chang, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said Beijing “has never and will never interfere in the US elections."Despite the concerns raised by Graphika, some researchers have questioned the network's ability to influence mainstream political opinion. Darren Linvill, who co-directs Clemson University's Watt Family Innovation Center Media Forensics Hub and has tracked Spamouflage activity, said the operation was unlikely to sway political discussions.“There is no chance it tips the balance in any real political conversation,” Linvill told AP.“Spamouflage is famously bad at mimicking real Americans," he added. “It's outside their wheelhouse.”Linvill said the network's impact was more evident in its efforts to suppress information and target individuals, particularly members of the Chinese diaspora.The accounts linked to the operation “very frequently attack and harass members of the Chinese diaspora community”, he said, describing the activity as part of a wider effort by Beijing to silence views it opposes.Graphika also identified specific accounts that appeared to have changed their identities or content strategies to target US political audiences.The firm also flagged four accounts with a history of Spamouflage activity that have since adopted MAGA-style personas, amplifying content associated with the political movement.Another account, which has more than 2,00,000 followers and presents itself as a Philippine culture blog, was found posting pro-China material alongside divisive content focused on US politics.Graphika said it could not establish whether the account had been hijacked, sold or otherwise transferred to a different operator, leaving questions about who currently controls it.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.