Google recently removed thousands of news sites and domains from Google News for disseminating pro-China content linked to a global influence operation called Glassbridge.
This group consists of four China-based companies – Shanghai Haixun Technology, Times Newswire, Durinbridge and Shenzhen Bowen Media – which disseminate narratives aligned with the political interests of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Secondo un rapporto pubblicato dal Threat Analysis Group (TAG) di Google e da Mandiant, these companies have adopted a highly coordinated approach, typical of disinformation operations, creating domains that present themselves as local, independent newspapers, but in reality publish pro-China propaganda or disinformation content.
The sites disseminate articles picked up by Chinese state media, such as the Global Times, or create content related to sensitive issues for the Beijing government. These include territorial claims in the South China Sea, Taiwan, Falun Gong, the Xinjiang region, the Covid-19 pandemic and the role of ASEAN. Some of the material also comes from Dragonbridge, another actor of pro-China influence operations already reported by Google in recent years.
‘The inauthentic news sites run by GLASSBRIDGE illustrate how actors in information operations have adopted methods beyond social media in an attempt to spread their narratives,’ the company stated. According to a report published by Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) and Mandiant, these companies have adopted a highly coordinated approach typical of disinformation operations, creating domains that present themselves as local, independent news outlets, but actually publish pro-China propaganda or disinformation content. Since 2022, Google has already blocked over 1,000 Glassbridge-related sites for violations of the company’s policies on ‘misleading behaviour’ and ‘editorial transparency’.
‘Presenting themselves as independent and often local newspapers, information operations actors are able to tailor their content to specific regional audiences and present their narratives as seemingly legitimate news and editorials.’ The researchers observed similar behaviour in campaigns from Russia and Iran.
According to Google, the Glassbridge operation demonstrates a growing tendency of countries like China to use private PR companies to run influence campaigns, thereby gaining plausible deniability. Through the guise of independent news outlets, these operations aim to gain credibility with local audiences while spreading narratives favourable to their own geopolitical interests.
The strategy is therefore not limited to social media, but exploits a combination of digital platforms, inauthentic news sites, disinformation sites, newswire services, often difficult to distinguish from legitimate ones. This complex architecture serves to mask the origin of the content and influence the global public debate.
‘Glassbridge operates globally, with sites targeting audiences in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the United States, as well as the Chinese diaspora,’ the report states.
The sites, often of low quality and full of repetitive content and misinformation, alternate between local news articles and narratives aligned with Chinese government interests.
For instance, Shanghai Haixun Technology, the most prolific member of the group, created over 600 domains blocked by Google for misleading content. Its sites targeted audiences in Brazil, India, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Russia, Thailand, Qatar and Vietnam. According to Mandiant, Haixun even used freelance platforms such as Fiverr to recruit paid social accounts and promote pro-government content.
Similarly, the report states that: ‘Times Newswire and Shenzhen Bowen Media operate networks of similar sites, often publishing identical content. Some articles, in addition to supporting Chinese government positions, include ad personam attacks or conspiracy theories or disinformation, such as those against Chinese virologist Yan Limeng or accusations against the United States of conducting biological experiments on humans’.
A campaign similar to Doppelganger, Spamouflage and Overload, which aimed, among other things, to influence the election campaign in the United States, culminating in the election of Donald Trump.
