Finding China's Edge

Engineering Influence Operations within the Limits of Social Media Platform Rules

Author(s): Jakob Bund
Editor(s): Sean Cordey, Benjamin Scharte
Series: CSS Cyberdefense Reports
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zürich
Publication Year: 2021

Against the backdrop of the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China has made a concerted endeavor to control the narratives about its own domestic crisis response and create an image as a reliable international partner. Analyzing China’s influence efforts through the lens of narrative control, this report cuts through questions of factual accuracy and seeks to focus on the longer-term interests and priorities that shape Beijing’s messaging. Building on the existing body of analysis that has advanced the visibility of the growing presence of Chinese propaganda elements on Western social media platforms, this report looks at the tactical evolutions in the use of social media to further the understanding of what capability developments may persevere beyond the pandemic.

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