the Australian Strategic Policy Institute revealed a vast network of YouTube channels, totaling over 4,500 videos, disseminating pro-China and anti-U.S. narratives. The campaign, possibly one of the most successful of its kind, utilized artificial intelligence to pair synthesized voices with video essays, marking a notable advancement in influence operations.
The videos, with content spanning approximately 10 minutes each, aimed to shape global opinion in favor of China while criticizing the United States. Narratives included claims of Chinese technological superiority, predictions of U.S. economic collapse, and portrayals of China and Russia as responsible geopolitical players. Notably, the videos showcased a preference for Chinese companies like Huawei, contrasting them with denigrated American counterparts like Apple.
According to the report, the campaign's impact was substantial, drawing nearly 120 million views and amassing 730,000 subscribers across at least 30 channels since the previous year. Some videos featured titles and scripts translated directly from Chinese phrases, while others incorporated information traceable to news stories circulated primarily in mainland China.
Disinformation, such as the false assertion that certain Southeast Asian nations adopted the Chinese yuan as their currency, was prevalent. The videos demonstrated a capacity to swiftly react to current events, with the report suggesting that this campaign might be among the most successful influence operations related to China on social media.
YouTube responded, stating that it works diligently to detect and counter coordinated influence operations. The platform has shut down several channels mentioned in the report for violating policies. However, the scale of this campaign, leveraging artificial intelligence, poses a unique challenge.
Jacinta Keast, an analyst at the Australian institute, emphasized the campaign's use of artificial intelligence, enabling the creation of persuasive content at scale with minimal costs compared to previous efforts. This development has elevated the sophistication of such influence operations.
Recent reports suggest an increased aggressiveness from China in propagating anti-U.S. propaganda. Historically, China focused on defending its government and policies, but it has shifted to direct targeting of the United States, particularly during events like the Hong Kong protests in 2019 and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The report also highlighted other instances of misinformation, including false accusations by China that the U.S. used energy weapons to start wildfires in Hawaii. The State Department accused China of using deceptive methods to shape the global information environment, while Meta removed thousands of Facebook accounts impersonating Americans, with links to interference in the 2024 U.S. presidential elections.
The use of artificial technology, particularly in video editing and AI programs, has become a focal point for Beijing. Disinformation peddlers reportedly leverage accessible tools to create convincing content, including AI-generated voice narration, as seen in this YouTube campaign.
The report concludes that the pro-China network's scale may be even larger, extending its reach to target audiences in Indonesia and France. It suggests that the use of AI-generated avatars and multilingual content production further enhances the campaign's influence on a global scale.
