WASHINGTON: China is manipulating international media by censorship, knowledge harvesting and covert purchases of international information shops, the US mentioned on Thursday (Sep 28), warning the pattern may result in a “sharp contraction” of worldwide freedom of expression.
The US State Division mentioned in a report that Beijing has spent billions of {dollars} yearly on data manipulation efforts, together with by buying stakes in international media by “public and personal means,” sponsoring on-line influencers and securing distribution agreements that promote unlabelled Chinese language authorities content material.
The Chinese language embassy in Washington didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. In July, Beijing responded to a NATO communique accusing it of coercive insurance policies and spreading disinformation by saying the assertion disregarded fundamental information, intentionally discredited China and distorted its insurance policies.
The US report comes amid controversy over China’s efforts in recent times to develop the worldwide footprint of its government-controlled media, particularly as geopolitical competitors between Beijing and Washington has intensified. Chinese language leaders have sought to fight the unfavourable pictures of China they really feel are unfold by world media.
Citing public stories and “newly acquired authorities data”, the State Division’s World Engagement Heart mentioned that Beijing had created its personal data ecosystem by co-opting international political elites and journalists. It had additionally invested in satellite tv for pc networks and digital tv companies in creating areas that prioritise Chinese language state-backed media content material.
Chinese language knowledge harvesting abroad “has enabled Beijing to fine-tune international censorship by focusing on particular people and organizations”, it mentioned.
“Unchecked, Beijing’s efforts may end in …. a pointy contraction of worldwide freedom of expression,” the report mentioned.
Regardless of unprecedented sources dedicated to the marketing campaign, Beijing had encountered “main setbacks” when focusing on democratic international locations because of native media and civil society push again, in line with the report, which was produced underneath a congressional mandate to element state data manipulation.