Taiwan Faces Escalating Disinformation Campaign from China, Targeting Younger Generation
Taipei, Taiwan – A newly released report by Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) reveals a significant surge in disinformation originating from China, with a 60% increase in 2024 compared to the previous year. The report, titled "China’s Disinformation Dissemination Patterns in 2024," highlights a concerning shift in tactics, focusing heavily on online platforms frequented by younger demographics. The NSB documented a staggering 2.16 million instances of "controversial information," which it equates to disinformation, compared to 1.33 million in 2023. While the bureau declined to disclose its specific methodology for data collection, the report paints a clear picture of an intensifying information warfare campaign aimed at eroding trust in the Taiwanese government and fostering social discord.
A core theme in the Chinese disinformation campaign revolves around sowing doubt about the United States’ commitment to Taiwan’s defense, targeting the military’s capabilities, and undermining public confidence in President Lai Ching-te. These efforts aim to destabilize Taiwanese society by creating internal divisions and fostering a sense of vulnerability. The report underscores the strategic nature of these disinformation campaigns, designed not merely to spread misinformation, but to influence public opinion and potentially impact political outcomes.
The primary platform exploited for disseminating this disinformation was Facebook, accounting for over 900,000 instances, a 40% increase from the previous year. However, the most alarming trend is the exponential growth observed in channels traditionally favored by younger audiences. Disinformation spread through video platforms, online forums, and X (formerly Twitter) experienced dramatic increases of 151%, 664%, and 244% respectively, indicating a deliberate targeting of Taiwan’s youth.
The rise of online forums, particularly PTT, Dcard, and Mobile01, as key disinformation vectors is particularly noteworthy. These platforms, barely registering in the 2023 report, became the second most utilized channel in 2024, surpassing all other platforms except Facebook. This shift underscores the adaptability of the disinformation campaign, exploiting evolving social media trends and leveraging platforms popular amongst the younger generation. The NSB also identified other sources, including Chinese media outlets, news websites, and the social media platform Weibo, as contributing to the spread of disinformation.
Fueling these campaigns is a significant increase in inauthentic accounts identified in 2024, totaling 28,216, an increase of over 11,000 from the previous year. Again, Facebook hosted the majority of these accounts, with 21,967 identified. However, TikTok witnessed a staggering 1,614% surge in inauthentic accounts, reaching 4,371, demonstrating the dynamic nature of these operations and their ability to adapt to shifting social media usage patterns. These "inauthentic accounts," often characterized by incomplete profiles, unusual activity patterns, and alignment with Chinese propaganda, play a crucial role in amplifying disinformation narratives.
The report further details the tactics employed in disseminating the disinformation, including coordinated flooding of comment sections with pro-China narratives using inauthentic accounts, manipulation of videos and memes, and the use of hacked Taiwanese accounts to impersonate citizens and military personnel, spreading disinformation from seemingly credible sources. Adding to these tactics are the increasingly sophisticated applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for generating fake content and deepfake technology to fabricate videos of Taiwanese political figures. Furthermore, the NSB identified the emergence of fake multilingual websites, such as the Czech "Bohemia Daily" and the Spanish "Güell Herald," designed to manipulate international public opinion and promote a pro-China narrative globally. This multifaceted approach underscores the sophistication and resources dedicated to this disinformation campaign, highlighting the ongoing challenge faced by Taiwan in countering these efforts.