The Harlan Report has been unveiled as a key player in China’s “Spamouflage” campaign, posing a severe threat to U.S. political narratives. Spamouflage mimics American voters to influence social media users. The fake accounts can consist of an AI-generated profile picture and a fictional bio description. Many of the accounts linked to Spamouflage appeal to all voters who identify as Democrat, Independent, or Republican. China’s influence has become more aggressive ahead of the upcoming U.S. election.
The Emergence of the Harlan Report
The Harlan Report began as a seemingly legitimate news outlet, emerging as an influential entity in social media manipulation. The figure behind this account, Harlan, claimed to be a New Yorker and Army veteran but was actually part of a Chinese disinformation network aiming to impact American voters. Analysis reveals Harlan’s persona evolved, complete with an AI-generated profile picture, consistent with tactics used in the Spamouflage campaign.
The Spamouflage operation is not an isolated incident but part of a more extensive scheme including efforts by Russia and Iran to manipulate the political views of Americans. Harlan’s account is linked to Spamouflage, known for casting a wide net of unrelated content to obscure its disinformation. The group mimics real users to influence divides within U.S. society, actively participating in both Republican and Democrat narratives.
China creating fake social media accounts to sway US Election
Spamouflage is Beijing based and focused on swaying you—Colonel (Retired) John Mills
The US Firm Graphika has put out a report on Chinese Social Media influence operations.
They want Trump supporters to be daunted… pic.twitter.com/KJShCoU8qs
— Tony Seruga (@TonySeruga) September 5, 2024
Sophisticated Disinformation Tactics
“One of the world’s largest covert online influence operations — an operation run by Chinese state actors — has become more aggressive in its efforts to infiltrate and to sway U.S. political conversations ahead of the election,” Jack Stubbs, Graphika’s chief intelligence officer, told The Associated Press. Harlan’s activities form part of this strategy, which is not just about supporting any candidate, but rather emphasizing issues sensitive to Beijing, such as views on Taiwan.
Spamouflage has evolved since its origins in 2017, growing more aggressive by exploiting divisive themes in U.S. politics. Efforts to cancel Spamouflage accounts and posts across platforms like X and TikTok have increased, with a standout example being a TikTok video of Harlan Report mocking President Biden, which gained 1.5 million views before removal. However, despite these efforts, a substantial number of Spamouflage accounts fail to achieve significant influence, showcasing the challenging nature of such operations.
WAPO: Get ready for “Spamouflage”! From the people who brought you disinformation and #Hamilton68 Russian bots! U.S. Intelligence Officials Say! https://t.co/cmJwjSyxeh pic.twitter.com/ohnPptT315
— Matt Orfalea (@0rf) October 11, 2024
U.S. Response to Chinese Influence
The complexity and persistence of Spamouflage pose a significant threat to the integrity of U.S. elections. Efforts to counteract disinformation by foreign actors remain a priority for U.S. officials, acknowledging China’s cautiously sophisticated approach. Spamouflage, also known as Dragonbridge, Taizi Flood, and Empire Dragon, inundates platforms with fake personas and high volumes of content, often aligning with Trump’s narratives yet also criticizing him to aggravate America’s social and political divides.
While these operations show limited success in engaging American voters, the efforts have highlighted the difficulty in managing the digital space. Outsourcing tactics and disguising origins of influence operations have become more efficient, demanding vigilance and response innovation from all democratic bodies engaged in ensuring fair electoral processes. The sustained activity from Spamouflage signifies the ongoing significance of this Chinese-led effort in digital manipulation ahead of upcoming elections.
