Many Spamouflage accounts recycle content from both far-right and far-left users, attempting to appeal to various political factions and create a sense of disillusionment among American voters.

Despite some accounts gaining traction, many Spamouflage accounts struggle for visibility, highlighting the competitive nature of online influence operations.

Researchers have uncovered a Chinese influence operation, dubbed 'Spamouflage', which impersonates American voters on social media to exacerbate divisions ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

Graphika identified multiple deceptive accounts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok that falsely claim to be U.S. citizens or advocacy groups, aiming to undermine confidence in the electoral process.

This operation is considered one of the largest covert online influence efforts by Chinese state actors, intensifying as the U.S. election approaches without overtly supporting any specific candidate.

The Spamouflage operation does not favor either political party but seeks to amplify criticisms of American society and government, targeting divisive issues such as gun control and race relations.

One notable example includes a TikTok video from a fake conservative account, Harlan Report, which mocked President Biden and garnered 1.5 million views before being taken down.

Harlan's profile picture was generated using artificial intelligence, mirroring images from previously linked Spamouflage accounts, indicating a pattern of deception.

These disinformation efforts are expected to persist beyond the election, as authoritarian regimes aim to weaken support for democratic processes.

The network employs fake accounts to mimic American users, often recycling content from diverse political sources while poorly disguising their foreign origins.

In mid-2023, the operatives shifted their strategy to target genuine supporters of former President Donald Trump, indicating an evolution in their approach.

In response to these findings, Chinese officials have denied allegations of interference, labeling them as prejudice and malicious speculation.