Microsoft analysts have warned that Chinese operatives were behind fake social media accounts using artificial intelligence-generated images to manipulate and influence American voters by spreading disinformation and provoking discussion on divisive political issues.
(Article cross-posted from Natural News)
According to a detailed report from Microsoft’s Digital Threat Analysis Center (DTAC), China-affiliated actors have been using AI-generated visual media to craft politically charged content in English while impersonating U.S. voters.
The campaign, which started in March 2023, uses more visually appealing and sophisticated AI-generated content with high-quality images designed to go viral on Facebook and X in the U.S. and other democratic nations.
This propaganda garnered “higher levels of engagement from authentic social media users” than previous campaigns that often relied on digital drawings, stock photo collages and manual graphic design.
For instance, an AI-generated image of the Statue of Liberty brandishing an assault rifle ignites politically divisive topics like gun violence and the defamation of U.S. political figures and symbols.
The fake accounts employed different tactics to appear like legitimate Americans, including setting their public locations within the United States, posting American political slogans and sharing hashtags related to domestic political issues.
“We can expect China to continue to hone this technology over time and improve its accuracy, though it remains to be seen how and when it will deploy it at scale,” commented Clint Watts, the general manager of DTAC.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, denied all the allegations in an email to CNN.
“In recent years, some Western media and think tanks have accused China of using artificial intelligence to create fake social media accounts to spread so-called ‘pro-China’ information. Such remarks are full of prejudice and malicious speculation against China, which China firmly opposes,” Liu said.
Chinese operatives are paying Americans to protest in the U.S.
During the 2016 presidential election, Russia reportedly used social media platforms to create division among U.S. voters. Since then, U.S. officials have warned the public that China and other countries might adopt this tactic in the future. And it could be true, as more proof has come out showing that China is trying to create disagreement and conflict in the United States.
Back in July, research conducted by cybersecurity firm Mandiant proved that Shanghai Haixum Technology Co., Ltd., a Chinese marketing firm was involved in organizing and promoting the small-scale protests in Washington last year. The analysis also revealed that the firm used a network of more than 70 fake news websites to share pro-China content.
One of the protests in question targeted a U.S. government ban on goods produced in China’s Xinjiang region, where the Chinese government has been accused by U.S. officials of engaging in systematic repression of the Uyghur population. The second protest occurred on the sidelines of a June conference on international religious freedom.
However, the protesters seemed to be unaware of their involvement in a pro-China influence campaign since they were carrying placards and chanting slogans related to racial discrimination and abortion in the United States. The Chinese firm also distributed videos of these protests online to amplify the reach of their influence campaign.
Mandiant’s senior analyst, Ryan Serabian, stated that the campaign was “intended to sow discord in U.S. society.” (Related: China plotted to infiltrate Federal Reserve to mine data.) Watch Chinese affairs analyst Gordon Chang expound on the CCP’s infiltration of the United States.
This video is from the Free4eva Media channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
- China using social media to sow racial discord in the US.
- China is preparing to start a war with America.
- Communist China caught smuggling tens of thousands of weapons parts into America to arm BLM.
- China–Google collusion? Human rights channel leaving YouTube after it CENSORED videos critical of China.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
Yes . . .
“China-affiliated actors have been using AI-generated visual media . .” Long provided to them from MICROSOFT and GOOGLE!
I have a tremendous amount of respect for GORDON CHANG; his book, which many scoff at now, was written in 2001, long before ALL the production facilities were offshored there, before America’s largest temporary personnel agency, MANPOWER, closed 1,000 offices across the USA and opened 900 offices in China and before Bill Gates of Microsoft handed over the Windows OS source code in 2006 to the CCP, Chinese Communist Party!
Mr, Chang is always on the money —– only the nefarious machinations of the Global Elites and America’s “China Class” can alter his more viable predictions!
We don’t need china to disseminate false information. WE HAVE THE BEST FAKE NEWS IN THE WORLD.