A startling revelation has come to light as digital watchdog Citizen Lab recently discovered over 100 websites posing as local news outlets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. These deceptive websites are an integral part of an extensive influence campaign aimed at promoting pro-China content. Citizen Lab’s research report, released on Wednesday, highlights that these propaganda sites, spread across 30 countries, cleverly blend curated news from local outlets and Chinese state media with their own content. This meticulously orchestrated campaign raises concerns about the inadvertent amplification of its messaging by both local media and the target audience. Alberto Fittarelli, one of the researchers, stated in the report that “there is a heightened risk of inadvertent amplification by the local media and target audiences, as a result of the quick multiplication of these websites and their adaptiveness to local languages and content.”
The deceptive content published on these websites ranges from conspiracy theories to targeted attacks on Beijing’s critics. Astonishingly, the researchers were able to trace this campaign back to Shenzhen Haimaiyunxiang Media Co., Ltd., a prominent Beijing-based public relations firm also known as Haimai. However, despite Citizen Lab’s findings, the company has yet to respond to requests for comment. These websites’ ability to obfuscate their intentions by mimicking genuine local news outlets is alarming. For instance, one of the identified websites, Roma Journal, sported all the hallmarks of a legitimate Italian news outlet, covering topics like the country’s political landscape, cultural events, and even book launches. Yet, a simple click on the “press releases” button on their homepage redirected unsuspecting readers to a collection of Chinese state media articles, praising China’s contributions to the global economy and its technological prowess.
While linking these influence campaigns to specific entities is rare, Citizen Lab managed to trace the origins of the operation to the aforementioned PR firm, Haimai. Significantly, the websites frequently sourced their content from an earlier Chinese influence operation targeting U.S. audiences, using a press releases service known as Times Newswire. This tactic of utilizing existing infrastructure reinforces the view that this recent campaign is part of a broader effort by the Chinese government to shape global narratives and influence public opinion. Experts studying online influence campaigns have noted that China, alongside Russia and Iran, is among the leading sources of such manipulation.
What sets China apart is the extent of its influence operations, which have expanded far beyond Asia. A report by social media giant Meta in November revealed that Chinese influence campaigns represent a significant change in the global threat landscape since 2020. This expansion has not gone unnoticed, as several countries, including South Korea and Italy, have encountered suspicious websites associated with the campaign. South Korea’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC), a division of the country’s national intelligence agency, exposed 18 of these sites in a report published in November. Roma Journal, for instance, was not legally registered as a news outlet in Italy, as reported by the country’s Il Foglio newspaper.
One intriguing aspect of this revelation is the low-engagement nature of these websites. Despite their negligible exposure to date, the fact that they continue to be funded suggests they are seen as a worthwhile endeavor by those behind the propaganda machine. Dakota Cary, a China-focused consultant at cybersecurity firm SentinelOne, emphasizes the significance of this matter, noting that just because the engagement is low does not mean the campaign lacks value. The subtle infiltration of pro-China content into the media landscape, regardless of viewership, serves their purpose of manipulating opinions and controlling narratives.
Citizen Lab’s extensive research has highlighted the existence of a far-reaching influence campaign linked to a Chinese PR firm. The meticulously designed pro-China websites masquerading as local news outlets have effectively blended propaganda content with genuine news, potentially amplifying their messaging unwittingly. This revelation sheds light on the increasing sophistication of influence operations conducted by major global powers such as China, Russia, and Iran. It is vital for global audiences to remain vigilant and critical, recognizing that not all news sources are what they appear to be, especially in this era of disinformation.
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