The Chinese government has built up the world’s largest known online
disinformation operation and is using it to harass US residents, politicians,
and businesses—at times threatening its targets with violence, a CNN review of
court documents and public disclosures by social media companies has found. The
onslaught of attacks – often of a vile and deeply personal nature – is part of a
well-organized, increasingly brazen Chinese government intimidation campaign
targeting people in the United States, documents show. The US State Department
says the tactics are part of a broader multi-billion-dollar effort to shape the
world’s information environment and silence critics of Beijing that has expanded
under President Xi Jinping. On Wednesday, President Biden is due to meet Xi at a
summit in San Francisco. Victims face a barrage of tens of thousands of social
media posts that call them traitors, dogs, and racist and homophobic slurs. They
say it’s all part of an effort to drive them into a state of constant fear and
paranoia.
Freedom of speech should not extend to foreign adversaries. Give me the ability to geoblock social media just like I can with my router at home. Accurately label any domestic sources that are relaying this disinformation as well so I can block them too.