US Foundation Reports Chinese Social Media Campaign Targeting Elections Worldwide

A Washington-based research institute says Chinese-linked social media accounts have been spreading misinformation about Japan's recent elections and attacking President Trump's policies. The Foundation for Defense of Democracy identified over 300 fake accounts across multiple platforms targeting several countries including the United States.

A Washington-based national security research organization has uncovered what it describes as a widespread Chinese disinformation campaign using hundreds of fake social media accounts to interfere in elections and political discussions across multiple nations.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracy reports that 35 social media accounts on X, along with nine Tumblr channels, launched attacks against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during her February election victory. These accounts spread false corruption claims and depicted the conservative leader as an unstable, “cult-backed” figure pushing Japan toward military conflict, according to researcher Maria Riofrio from the foundation’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation.

The Japanese accounts represent just a fraction of a larger network comprising at least 327 fake profiles across various social media platforms. Since December, this network has promoted Beijing-friendly policies while attacking China’s critics and attempting to sway domestic politics in Japan, America, the Philippines, and Latin American countries, Riofrio’s analysis reveals.

A representative from Takaichi’s office confirmed awareness of suspicious foreign social media activity related to Japan’s elections.

“We consider this to be a national security threat that undermines the very foundations of democracy, including the fairness of elections and freedom of the press. We believe that countermeasures must be urgently prioritized,” the spokesperson stated.

Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu in Washington dismissed the foundation’s findings as baseless.

“The Chinese government consistently opposes and combats the use of fake accounts and other tactics to manipulate public opinion or spread disinformation,” Liu told Reuters. “We urge the relevant parties to stop making unfounded accusations and smearing others based on speculation.”

Riofrio connected this recent activity to ongoing Chinese information warfare operations that cybersecurity experts have labeled Spamouflage or Dragonbridge. While these posts typically receive minimal engagement, they still reach users’ feeds and operators manipulate algorithms to increase visibility. One anti-Takaichi post claiming cult connections garnered only two likes but accumulated over 1,000 views.

The researcher emphasized that this activity shows “China has the political will to interfere in Japanese elections and internal affairs,” while noting similar operations targeting other nations, including America.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracy describes itself as a Washington nonprofit dedicated to “strengthening U.S. national security and reducing or eliminating threats posed by adversaries and enemies of the United States and other free nations.”

Nearly half of the 327 identified accounts have targeted President Donald Trump, spreading claims that his drug and border enforcement policies have worsened America’s fentanyl problem, contradicting progress allegedly made under the Biden administration while deflecting responsibility from China.

During early February, six coordinated accounts with fewer than 10 followers each generated hundreds of interactions and nearly 18,000 views through synchronized anti-Trump messaging about fentanyl, according to the analysis.

One network account, FentanylFreeA, established in December 2025, appears designed to mimic the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Fentanyl Free America initiative, using similar branding and identical graphics while attacking both America and India as sources of fentanyl precursor chemicals.

Neither the White House nor the DEA provided responses to requests for comment.

Security experts say the Spamouflage or Dragonbridge operations have been active since 2017, consistently targeting global audiences.

A Google Threat Intelligence Group representative identified Dragonbridge as “the most prolific pro-PRC information operations operator” they monitor as of early 2026, citing “its massive scale and assertive narrative agenda.”

While traditionally focused on targeting America, overseas dissidents, government critics, and international NGOs, Dragonbridge has intensified its Asia-Pacific activities, the Google spokesperson noted, including attacks on Japanese political leadership, Japan-Taiwan diplomatic relations, Vietnam’s South China Sea policies, India, and Philippine government officials.

OpenAI reported Wednesday that it disrupted attempts by a Chinese law enforcement official in mid-October to coordinate a multi-phase information attack against Takaichi.