In a major effort to combat online misinformation, Google has taken down over 1,000 websites linked to a sophisticated Chinese influence operation known as Glassbridge. The tech giant's Threat Analysis Group revealed that four Chinese companies were behind a sprawling network of fake news domains designed to spread pro-Beijing propaganda.
Shanghai Haixun Technology emerged as the primary culprit, operating more than 600 deceptive domains targeting English and Chinese-speaking audiences worldwide. The websites masqueraded as legitimate news outlets while pushing narratives aligned with Chinese government positions on sensitive topics like Taiwan, the South China Sea, and Xinjiang.
The operation extended far beyond a single company. Three other firms - Paperwall, Durnbridge, and Shenzhen Bowen Media - ran hundreds of additional domains across over 30 countries, each posing as independent local news sources. Their content included targeted character attacks and conspiracy theories about U.S. biological experiments.
"The actors behind these operations gain plausible deniability by using private PR firms, obscuring their role in spreading coordinated inauthentic content," explained Vanessa Molter, Google's senior threat analyst.
The blocked domains violated Google's policies on deceptive practices and editorial transparency. As a result, they have been removed from Google News features and Google Discover.
Security experts note that this marks a concerning evolution in influence operations, as bad actors move beyond social media to establish seemingly credible news websites. The tactics mirror similar campaigns previously observed from Russian and Iranian operators.
The rise of AI-generated content poses additional challenges in detecting and preventing such sophisticated influence campaigns. By tailoring propaganda to specific regional audiences through fake local news outlets, these operations aim to legitimize their narratives and shape public opinion across the globe.
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