A Microsoft Threat Analysis Center report, released less than two weeks out from Election Day, revealed Chinese influence operations targeted a handful of Republican candidates and congressional members who “advocate for anti-Chinese policies.”
The Chinese Embassy in Washington maintained it “has no intention and will not interfere in the US election.”
Those revelations were followed up Friday with reporting that Chinese hackers allegedly targeted the phones of former President Trump and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (Ohio).
The recent occurrences are raising questions over China’s involvement in the U.S. election and how campaigns should navigate the threat.
“From sort of a democracy standpoint, you can’t lose sight of the fact that the goal of our foreign adversaries, including China, is to destabilize America from within,” explained Kim Wyman, who served as senior election security adviser for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and is a former GOP secretary of state in Washington.
“So our political polarization at this moment has made it easier for threat actors like China and Russia and Iran to capitalize on our discord and amplify it to sow deeper division here at home,” she explained.
The latest Microsoft report alleges a Chinese-linked disinformation campaign known as Taizi Flood or “Spamouflage” targeted a handful of downballot Republicans, some of whom are facing elections this year: Reps. Barry Moore (Ala.) and Michael McCaul (Texas) in addition to Sens. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.).
Beginning last month, the disinformation campaign targeted Blackburn, the report alleged, noting, “By early October, Taizi Flood accounts evolved this campaign, promoting Blackburn’s opponent in the 2024 election, Representative Gloria Johnson.”
“Although Taizi Flood assets engaged in attention-seeking behavior by tagging prominent politicians, celebrities, and news outlets in relevant posts, the campaign received virtually no authentic engagement as of the time of this writing,” the report said.
The disinformation campaign also allegedly targeted McCaul, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, earlier this month as different accounts alleged he was “abusing power for personal gain.”
Nevertheless, legislators such as McCaul and Blackburn, prominent critics of China, are likely to glide to reelection this November.
Read more in a full report at TheHill.com.
