The clashes on American college campuses have been attributed to the failures of the Biden administration by a fake online news outlet linked to Russia’s information operations. Meanwhile, a newspaper controlled by the Communist Party of China criticized the police crackdowns, highlighting the “double standards and hypocrisy” in the United States regarding free speech.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, posted a cartoon depicting the police arresting a young protester disguised as the Statue of Liberty, condemning the “imprisonment of freedom” in the USA. Russia, China, and Iran have capitalized on protests over the war in Gaza to sow geopolitical discord and exacerbate tensions within the United States, according to researchers.
While there is little evidence of direct support from these countries for the protests, they have amplified the demonstrations through overt and covert efforts. State media in Russia, China, and Iran have produced a significant amount of English-language content about the protests, aiming to portray the US as a country in turmoil.
Foreign influence operations are also shifting focus towards the upcoming presidential election in November, seeking to stoke partisan tensions, undermine democracy, and promote isolationism. The campaigns aim to exploit ongoing domestic crises and highlight divisions within American society.
China’s influence campaign, known as Spamouflage, has been actively involved in spreading propaganda related to the protests, criticizing the US government’s handling of the situation. The goal is to amplify sentiments expressed by protesters and their supporters to influence public opinion and government policies.
Overall, China, Russia, and Iran have different motivations for getting involved in these influence operations but all benefit from damaging global perceptions of the United States. State media in Iran, in particular, has been vocal in supporting Hamas and criticizing the US response to the protests.
Efforts to undermine the US as a global ally, such as criticizing foreign aid packages and promoting new partnerships with Russia and China, are part of a broader strategy to portray the US as unreliable. These influence campaigns are likely to intensify as the presidential election approaches, with the goal of shaping public opinion and influencing policy decisions.
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