420: Renee DiResta | Dismantling the Disinformation Machine

State Media

Renee DiResta, the technical research manager at Stanford Internet Observatory, discusses China's state-run media apparatus and its role in spreading propaganda. She explains that China has expanded its domestic propaganda efforts to international social media platforms like Facebook, despite Chinese citizens being banned from the site. This strategy includes running ads and boosting content to promote China's narrative on global issues, such as the coronavirus pandemic 1 2.

So what we've seen from China is first of all, they've taken their broadcast apparatus, their television stations, their radio stations, their print news, and they've begun to establish presences for all of those other publications on social platforms as well.

--- Renee DiResta

DiResta contrasts this with Russia's more covert tactics, noting that China's efforts are more overt and less sophisticated 1.

   

Bot Operations

China's use of bots and automation to amplify its narrative on global platforms is another key aspect of its propaganda strategy. DiResta highlights that these bots often lack sophistication, with poorly constructed personas and automated profiles that are easily identifiable 2. This approach contrasts sharply with Russia's more nuanced and convincing bot operations 3.

What you see from China is this kind of throw spaghetti at the wall. The accounts don't even have plausible names. They rarely have a profile picture. They don't have a great bio. It's just crap.

--- Renee DiResta

Additionally, China employs a tactic known as "flooding the zone," where they bombard social media with conflicting narratives to create confusion and doubt about actual events 4.