WASHINGTON – As the U.S. midterm elections approach, the long-running influence campaign known as Spamouflage is reportedly active, with analysts suggesting that accounts linked to China are impersonating U.S. voters and disseminating divisive content about American politics, social issues, and the electoral process.
A recent blog post by Graphika, a New York-based firm specializing in tracking online networks, highlighted that the tactics employed by Spamouflage closely resemble those documented in the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. This ongoing campaign appears to focus on undermining the integrity of elections and the legitimacy of U.S. democracy, as noted in the Graphika analysis.
Intelligence and national security officials have long warned of online influence operations orchestrated by countries such as Russia, China, and Iran targeting U.S. voters. Observers have pointed out that while China does not explicitly support a particular presidential candidate, its efforts are geared toward eroding public confidence in elections and the U.S. democratic system as a whole.
Liu Chang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, firmly stated that China “has never and will never interfere in the U.S. elections.” However, the persistence of Spamouflage raises questions about the effectiveness and intent behind such denials.
Darren Linvill, co-director of Clemson University’s Watt Family Innovation Center Media Forensics Hub, has been tracking Spamouflage activities extensively. He expressed skepticism regarding the potential impact of these operations on real political conversations, noting, “Spamouflage is famously bad at mimicking real Americans. It’s outside their wheelhouse.”
Linvill pointed out that while Spamouflage may not effectively influence political discourse, it has shown a propensity for suppressing information. The accounts associated with this influence operation frequently attack and harass members of the Chinese diaspora community, aligning with a broader strategy by Beijing to silence dissenting views.
In its analysis, Graphika identified an account that seemingly replaced a previously removed account linked to Spamouflage. This new account has been active in posting divisive U.S. political content, including critiques of Democratic Party leadership during the U.S. government shutdown in October 2025 and discussions around immigration policy.
Graphika flagged four accounts with a history of Spamouflage activity that now amplify MAGA-style personas. Additionally, they identified an account with over 200,000 followers that presents itself as a Philippine culture blog but has shifted to posting pro-China and divisive U.S.-focused content. The firm noted that it could not ascertain whether this account was hijacked or if the original operator sold or otherwise lost control of it.
The ongoing activities of Spamouflage highlight the evolving landscape of online misinformation and the critical need for vigilance as elections approach. Understanding these dynamics is essential for safeguarding democratic processes and maintaining the integrity of public discourse.
