Google has uncovered and disrupted a major Chinese influence operation dubbed "GLASSBRIDGE" that uses fake news websites and wire services to spread pro-Beijing narratives worldwide.
The operation, revealed by Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG), involves a complex network of inauthentic news outlets run by small digital PR firms that masquerade as independent media organizations while amplifying Chinese state media content and other commissioned articles.
Since 2022, Google has removed over 1,000 GLASSBRIDGE-affiliated websites from its News and Discover platforms. The tech company identified several key players behind the operation, including Shanghai Haixun Technology, Times Newswire/Shenzhen Haimai Yunxiang Media, Shenzhen Bowen Media, and DURINBRIDGE.
One concerning tactic employed by the network involves placing pro-China content on subdomain pages of legitimate news websites. For example, Shenzhen Bowen Media's World Newswire service has managed to insert content onto subdomains of respected outlets like the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Buffalo News, and Arizona Central.
TAG researcher Vanessa Molter explains that by disguising themselves as local and independent news sources, these operators can effectively target specific regional audiences with tailored content that appears to be legitimate journalism rather than state-sponsored messaging.
This revelation highlights the growing sophistication of influence operations that exploit trusted news platforms to shape public opinion and advance political agendas through seemingly authentic channels.
The exposure of GLASSBRIDGE demonstrates the ongoing challenges faced by tech platforms in detecting and countering coordinated influence campaigns that blur the lines between genuine news reporting and state-sponsored propaganda.