As the United States braces for the upcoming elections, the nation's adversaries are reportedly escalating their efforts to interfere, with China specifically targeting Republicans who are critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as revealed in a recent report by Microsoft.
The report also highlights that Russia continues to disseminate false information about Vice President Kamala Harris, while Iranian actors are focusing their attention on election-related websites and mainstream media outlets.
According to Fox News, the report by Microsoft underscores the varying degrees of success these misinformation campaigns achieve. Some barely gain traction, while others are unwittingly amplified by thousands of Americans. "With a particular focus on the 48 hours before and after Election Day, voters, government institutions, candidates, and parties must remain vigilant against deceptive and suspicious activity online," Microsoft cautioned in its election report.
The report also revealed an intriguing strategy by Iran, where a fabricated online persona known as "Bushnell's Men" was created last week. This persona urged American voters to abstain from voting due to both candidates' support for Israel's military operations.
In a surprising turn of events, despite her secure double-digit lead over her Democratic opponent, Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn has been targeted online by Chinese influence actors. This is reportedly due to her efforts to ban TikTok and challenge the CCP. "This is nothing new. I've been informed before about China trying to carry out a malign influence campaign against me," Blackburn told Fox News Digital.
Blackburn further elaborated on her stance against China, stating, "China gets upset with me because I believe that you've got China trying to spy on our citizens. You have them pushing danger and harm toward our children. They do not keep their trade agreements when it comes to agricultural products and manufactured goods. And I speak out about this. I felt like the Biden administration has treated China like they're a friend or a business partner."
The report also identified three other Republicans who have piqued China's interest: Representatives Michael McCaul of Texas, Barry Moore of Alabama, and Marco Rubio of Florida. The Chinese actor Taizi Flood reportedly launched an online campaign in late September, criticizing Blackburn and promoting her opponent, state Representative Gloria Johnson, a Democrat from Tennessee.
The report also revealed that the CCP is targeting McCaul by accusing him of "abusing power for personal gain." Online posts linked to the CCP accused McCaul of insider trading and pushing controversial bills. McCaul was sanctioned by China in 2023 following a visit to Taiwan.
Flood-linked accounts also criticized Moore for his support for Israel, using antisemitic language. Unlike the attacks on Blackburn, Floods attacks on Moore gained traction online and were further amplified by other Flood assets. Flood accounts also accused Rubio, who is not up for re-election, of corruption.
Despite these allegations, Russia, China, and Iran have all denied claims of meddling in U.S. political affairs.
Blackburn, who has been advocating for the passage of her kids' online safety bill and has long called for the banning of TikTok, labeled the popular video-sharing platform a "spy mechanism." She warned, "What they're doing is building a database for every one of our children who are on and adults, too that platform, and they are using this to be able to track you, to monitor you, to control what you see, what you say, what you hear, what you think and ultimately how you vote."
Should Republicans secure power in the November elections, Blackburn has vowed to push for a ban on all Confucius Institutes, higher education centers run by CCP-affiliated scholars, hold China "accountable for their role in pushing fentanyl on our people," and recognize Taiwan's independence from China.
While the U.S. does not formally support or recognize Taiwan's independence, it does arm the tiny island democracy against an encroaching Chinese military presence. This complex geopolitical landscape underscores the need for vigilance and discernment as the nation prepares for the upcoming elections.
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