Russian and Chinese information operations have dramatically escalated worldwide, filling gaps left by Western withdrawal. On May 15, 2025, The Economist reported that both countries are investing heavily in global media influence through state-controlled networks, journalist training programs, and sophisticated social media campaigns, while the United States and European nations reduce funding for international broadcasting. The article begins:
Sixty lucky students got the chance to train as journalists last year at African Initiative, a new press agency in Bamako, Mali’s capital. Trainees were given online and in-person lessons in reporting, with the promise that three of them would eventually be hired as full-time staff at the agency. The catch, as reported by Forbidden Stories, a network of investigative journalists, was that African Initiative is run by Russian intelligence. Many Western countries are winding down their efforts to broadcast to the world. In March President Donald Trump pulled funding for Voice of America and its sister networks, and dismantled USAID, which funded thousands of journalists around the world.
Key Points
- BBC Director-General Tim Davie warned that China and Russia are investing “hundreds of millions or possibly billions” on disinformation campaigns threatening democratic societies.
- China’s state media dominates Facebook globally, with CGTN alone gathering 125 million followers, more than CNN or the New York Times.
- Russia’s RT has expanded into Africa, Latin America, and Asia, running journalist training academies and securing content-sharing deals with over 30 African television stations.
- Harvard research found that increased exposure to Chinese state media Facebook ads correlated with more positive coverage of China in local news outlets.
Russia & Chinese Influence Operations: Global Strategies
Russian and Chinese influence operations have escalated in both sophistication and global reach, targeting democratic processes and public opinion across continents. Recent developments include Russian influence in Poland, where coordinated digital campaigns sought to disrupt the presidential election, and Kremlin-backed Telegram channels manipulating Romanian political discourse. Simultaneously, Chinese global influence operations have systematically targeted democratic institutions, with AI-driven information operations granting Beijing an alarming advantage over U.S. military and strategic interests.
These efforts extend to election interference in the Philippines and Canada, as well as the use of malicious Russian bot farms to poison AI systems with propaganda ahead of the Australian federal election. These operations are characterized by cross-platform tactics, leveraging social media and encrypted channels. They are increasingly difficult to counter due to advanced technologies and global coordination. External analyses highlight that influence operations often exploit regulatory gaps and platform policies, with Western and non-Western adversaries adapting rapidly to new countermeasures. The proliferation of organizations and initiatives to counter these threats underscores the urgent need for cross-regional collaboration and resource allocation, as the threat landscape evolves and outpaces defensive efforts.
External References:
-
Mapping Worldwide Initiatives to Counter Influence Operations
-
Influence Operations and Disinformation on Social Media
Disclaimer
The Global Influence Operations Report (GIOR) employs AI throughout the posting process, including generating summaries of news items, the introduction, key points, and often the “context” section. We recommend verifying all information before use. Additionally, images are AI-generated and intended solely for illustrative purposes. While they represent the events or individuals discussed, they should not be interpreted as real-world photography.
PREVIOUS POST