Google removed hundreds of fake news websites linked to a pro-China influence operation called Glassbridge. The sites posed as independent news outlets but published propaganda aligned with Beijing’s political interests.
The tech giant’s Threat Analysis Group identified four companies, Shanghai Haixun Technology, Haimai, DURINBRIDGE and Shenzhen Bowen Media, responsible for creating and operating these fake domains. Since 2022, Google has blocked more than 1,000 websites and domains from appearing in its search results, including Google News and Google Discover, for violating policies against deceptive behavior and lack of editorial transparency.
Shanghai Haixun Technology was the most prolific offender, operating over 600 policy-violating domains targeting audiences in countries such as Brazil, India, Kenya and Vietnam. The sites often republished articles from Chinese state media or included politically charged content on topics like the South China Sea, Taiwan, Xinjiang and COVID-19.
Other companies involved targeted specific regions and audiences. Paperwall operated more than 100 websites masquerading as local outlets across 30 countries, while DURINBRIDGE managed over 200 domains. Shenzhen Bowen Media focused on presenting pro-China narratives in localized contexts.
Google noted these operations leveraged PR firms to obscure their connections to the Chinese government, allowing the actors behind the campaigns to maintain plausible deniability. Researchers also highlighted similarities to influence campaigns linked to Russia and Iran.
The use of fake news websites and repurposed content marks a shift in information operations, which have traditionally relied on social media platforms. Google warned that the rise of AI-generated content poses growing challenges in combating misinformation.
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