According to researchers, misinformation campaign unleashed on social media in support of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-china-sow-disinformation-to-undermine-trust-in-western-vaccines-eu-report-381234">Chinese</a> government has now spread from&nbsp;Twitter, Google and Facebook in new languages to several countries.

A report by Rand Corporation published earlier had found that China has been treating Taiwan as a "test bed" for developing attack vectors using disinformation on social media.

"China's control over the Chinese-language social media platform WeChat and a general belief among China authors that the global ethnic Chinese diaspora is a favourable vector of influence for Beijing to leverage," the Rand report had said.

Watch:

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FireEye and Alphabet’s Google had earlier identified accounts on social media in English and Mandarin which sought to cast doubt on Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement which had broken out in mid-2019.

The Rand report had earlier acknowledged China's "disinformation" campaign during the coronavirus crisis and had warned that "Chinese disinformation campaigns will likely be used to target the United States in the event of a crisis or conflict".

Reports say there were several accounts circulating&nbsp;on social media in various countries which sought to convey that the virus first emerged in the United States before Wuhan in China and that it was developed by the US&nbsp;military taking aim at US Army's Fort Detrick installation in Maryland.

In fact, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lijian Zhao in a tweet last month had said: "Open the door to Fort Detrick, shed light on tightly held secret, This RAP song speaks our minds" as several tweets sought to draw attention to Fort Detrick.

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"Open the door to Fort Detrick, 
Shed light on tightly held secret..." 
This RAP song speaks our minds. <a href="https://t.co/YWRL0s4EE0">pic.twitter.com/YWRL0s4EE0</a>
— Lijian Zhao 赵立坚 (@zlj517) <a href="https://twitter.com/zlj517/status/1425472442508611590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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In fact, Rand had recommended that the US Air Force should incorporate "adversary social media disinformation into wargaming" due to the increased level of threat from Chinese disinformation.

FireEye in its report said it had witnessed "extensive promotion" of German, Spanish, Korean, Russian and Japanese-language content on US and non-US-based platforms".

The report said some posts asked protesters to demonstrate against racism in the United States with the disinformation campaign deploying videos to further their&nbsp;message.

YouTube has reportedly been removing several thousand channels each month linked to the disinformation campaign. &nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

According to researchers, misinformation campaign unleashed on social media in support of the Chinese government has now spread from Twitter, Google and Facebook in new languages to several countries.

According to researchers, misinformation campaign unleashed on social media in support of the Chinese government has now spread from Twitter, Google and Facebook in new languages to several countries. A report by Rand Corporation published earlier had found that China has been treating Taiwan as a "test bed" for developing attack vectors using disinformation on social media. "China's control over the Chinese-language social media platform WeChat and a general belief among China authors that the global ethnic Chinese diaspora is a favourable vector of influence for Beijing to leverage," the Rand report had said. Watch: FireEye and Alphabet’s Google had earlier identified accounts on social media in English and Mandarin which sought to cast doubt on Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement which had broken out in mid-2019. The Rand report had earlier acknowledged China's "disinformation" campaign during the coronavirus crisis and had warned that "Chinese disinformation campaigns will likely be used to target the United States in the event of a crisis or conflict". Reports say there were several accounts circulating on social media in various countries which sought to convey that the virus first emerged in the United States before Wuhan in China and that it was developed by the US military taking aim at US Army's Fort Detrick installation in Maryland. In fact, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lijian Zhao in a tweet last month had said: "Open the door to Fort Detrick, shed light on tightly held secret, This RAP song speaks our minds" as several tweets sought to draw attention to Fort Detrick. "Open the door to Fort Detrick, Shed light on tightly held secret..." This RAP song speaks our minds. pic.twitter.com/YWRL0s4EE0 — Lijian Zhao 赵立坚 (@zlj517) August 11, 2021 × In fact, Rand had recommended that the US Air Force should incorporate "adversary social media disinformation into wargaming" due to the increased level of threat from Chinese disinformation. FireEye in its report said it had witnessed "extensive promotion" of German, Spanish, Korean, Russian and Japanese-language content on US and non-US-based platforms". The report said some posts asked protesters to demonstrate against racism in the United States with the disinformation campaign deploying videos to further their message. YouTube has reportedly been removing several thousand channels each month linked to the disinformation campaign. (With inputs from Agencies)

Social media misinformation campaign in support of China extends to new languages, countries: Report

An Australian lawmaker who frequently peddled pandemic misinformation quit the conservative government Tuesday, weeks after being publicly dressed down by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Craig Kelly repeatedly used social media and the floor of parliament to question the safety of coronavirus vaccines, oppose lockdowns, and promote unproven Covid-19 treatments such as Malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and headlice medication ivermectin.

"I felt that for the rest of this parliamentary term, if I'm going to act and speak according to my conscience and my beliefs, that I can do so more effectively as an independent," the Sydney MP told public broadcaster ABC.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-begins-coronavirus-vaccine-programme-scott-morrison-gets-jab-365155">Australia begins coronavirus vaccine programme; Scott Morrison gets jab</a>

The Sydney MP informed colleagues of his decision at a party meeting in Canberra, and Morrison confirmed Kelly's departure, saying he "no longer felt that he could meet" the commitment to stop spreading misinformation.

Kelly's Facebook account — which also frequently plays down climate change — had around six million video views and five million interactions in 2020, according to data tool CrowdTangle.

His latest expression of "concerns" about Covid-19 treatments comes as Australia enters the second day of mass vaccination.&nbsp;

Public opinion polls show around three-in-four Australians intend to get vaccinated, but misinformation is widespread on prominent media platforms.

An Australian lawmaker who frequently peddled pandemic misinformation quit the conservative government Tuesday, weeks after being publicly dressed down by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

An Australian lawmaker who frequently peddled pandemic misinformation quit the conservative government Tuesday, weeks after being publicly dressed down by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Craig Kelly repeatedly used social media and the floor of parliament to question the safety of coronavirus vaccines, oppose lockdowns, and promote unproven Covid-19 treatments such as Malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and headlice medication ivermectin. "I felt that for the rest of this parliamentary term, if I'm going to act and speak according to my conscience and my beliefs, that I can do so more effectively as an independent," the Sydney MP told public broadcaster ABC. Also read| Australia begins coronavirus vaccine programme; Scott Morrison gets jab The Sydney MP informed colleagues of his decision at a party meeting in Canberra, and Morrison confirmed Kelly's departure, saying he "no longer felt that he could meet" the commitment to stop spreading misinformation. Kelly's Facebook account — which also frequently plays down climate change — had around six million video views and five million interactions in 2020, according to data tool CrowdTangle. His latest expression of "concerns" about Covid-19 treatments comes as Australia enters the second day of mass vaccination. Public opinion polls show around three-in-four Australians intend to get vaccinated, but misinformation is widespread on prominent media platforms.

Australian MP who promoted pandemic conspiracies quits ruling party

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-accuses-china-and-russia-of-coordinating-to-spread-virus-conspiracies-297550" hreflang="en">US accuses China and Russia of coordinating to spread virus conspiracies</a>

<img alt="Russia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="755bd5de-bd46-4bb9-b953-56e91415620b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/https___cdn.cnn_.com_cnnnext_dam_assets_200312113720-putin-trump-xi-split.jpg" /> 
The US State Department has accused China and Russia&nbsp;of stepping up cooperation to spread false narratives over the coronavirus pandemic. <a href="wionews.com/world/us-accuses-china-and-russia-of-coordinating-to-spread-virus-conspiracies-297550">Read more</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-trumps-valet-pences-press-secretary-tests-positive-for-covid-19-297547" hreflang="en">After Trump's valet, Pence's press secretary tests positive for COVID-19</a>

<img alt="Mike Pence" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3334b7cf-72b4-4109-a3e0-31766d917bd1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/110346-untitled-design-9.jpg" /> 
US&nbsp;Vice-president Mike Pence’s press secretary has become the second White House staffer to test positive for coronavirus&nbsp;this week. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-trumps-valet-pences-press-secretary-tests-positive-for-covid-19-297547">Read&nbsp;more</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-reports-one-day-record-of-751-coronavirus-deaths-297555" hreflang="en">Brazil reports one-day record of 751 coronavirus deaths</a>

<img alt="Brazil" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa7e85e7-17a1-4f45-bf40-39043e0fcbe2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/f1d13f5cd558af7b9eaef082c22314e0.jpg" /> 
Brazil said on Friday it had reached a new daily record for COVID-19 fatalities with 751 deaths. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-reports-one-day-record-of-751-coronavirus-deaths-297555">Read more</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawmakers-write-to-like-minded-countries-urge-support-for-taiwan-at-who-297553">US lawmakers write to 'like-minded' countries, urge support for Taiwan at WHO</a>

<img alt="Taiwan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="868cffb4-7924-4436-a593-36b40e4f926a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/134457-taiwanchina.jpeg" /> 
Citing the need for the broadest effort possible to fight the coronavirus pandemic, leaders of US congressional foreign affairs committees wrote to nearly 60 countries on Friday asking them to support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawmakers-write-to-like-minded-countries-urge-support-for-taiwan-at-who-297553">Read more</a>

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US accuses China and Russia of coordinating to spread virus conspiracies The US State Department has accused China and Russia of stepping up cooperation to spread false narratives over the coronavirus pandemic.

US accuses China and Russia of coordinating to spread virus conspiracies The US State Department has accused China and Russia of stepping up cooperation to spread false narratives over the coronavirus pandemic. Read more After Trump's valet, Pence's press secretary tests positive for COVID-19 US Vice-president Mike Pence’s press secretary has become the second White House staffer to test positive for coronavirus this week. Read more Brazil reports one-day record of 751 coronavirus deaths Brazil said on Friday it had reached a new daily record for COVID-19 fatalities with 751 deaths. Read more US lawmakers write to 'like-minded' countries, urge support for Taiwan at WHO Citing the need for the broadest effort possible to fight the coronavirus pandemic, leaders of US congressional foreign affairs committees wrote to nearly 60 countries on Friday asking them to support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization. Read more

Morning News Brief: US accuses China, Russia, Pence's aide tests positive, and more

The US State Department has accused China and Russia&nbsp;of stepping up cooperation to spread false narratives over the coronavirus pandemic.

Lea Gabrielle, who oversees the State Department's Global Engagement Center, tasked with identifying and responding to foreign propaganda, told reporters Friday morning her office had identified "a new network of inauthentic accounts" on Twitter designed to bolster China's narrative that it was not responsible for the global spread of COVID-19.

Proxies of both China and Russia appear to be working in coordination to magnify this narrative on the social media platform, leading Gabrielle to conclude the two governments are likely working together out of shared interest.

According to her, ''Beijing appears to be increasingly adopting Russian tactics to sow discord and spread disinformation on social media about the origins of COVID-19.''&nbsp;

"Even before the COVID-19 crisis we assessed a certain level of coordination between Russia and the PRC in the realm of propaganda," said Lea Gabrielle, coordinator of the State Department's Global Engagement Center, which tracks foreign propaganda.

"But with this pandemic the cooperation has accelerated rapidly," she told reporters.

"We see this convergence as a result of what we consider to be pragmatism between the two actors who want to shape public understanding of the COVID pandemic for their own purposes," she said.

The Global Engagement Center earlier said thousands of Russian-linked social media accounts were spreading conspiracies about the pandemic, including charging that the virus first detected last year in the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan was created by the United States.

China outraged the United States when a foreign ministry spokesman tweeted a conspiracy that the US military brought the virus to Wuhan, but the two countries reached an informal rhetorical truce in late March after telephone talks between President Donald Trump and his counterpart Xi Jinping.

The US State Department has accused China and Russia of stepping up cooperation to spread false narratives over the coronavirus pandemic. Lea Gabrielle, who oversees the State Department's Global Engagement Center, tasked with identifying and responding to foreign propaganda, told reporters Friday morning her office had identified "a new network of inauthentic accounts" on Twitter designed to bolster China's narrative that it was not responsible for the global spread of COVID-19.

The US State Department has accused China and Russia of stepping up cooperation to spread false narratives over the coronavirus pandemic. Lea Gabrielle, who oversees the State Department's Global Engagement Center, tasked with identifying and responding to foreign propaganda, told reporters Friday morning her office had identified "a new network of inauthentic accounts" on Twitter designed to bolster China's narrative that it was not responsible for the global spread of COVID-19. Proxies of both China and Russia appear to be working in coordination to magnify this narrative on the social media platform, leading Gabrielle to conclude the two governments are likely working together out of shared interest. According to her, ''Beijing appears to be increasingly adopting Russian tactics to sow discord and spread disinformation on social media about the origins of COVID-19.'' "Even before the COVID-19 crisis we assessed a certain level of coordination between Russia and the PRC in the realm of propaganda," said Lea Gabrielle, coordinator of the State Department's Global Engagement Center, which tracks foreign propaganda. "But with this pandemic the cooperation has accelerated rapidly," she told reporters. "We see this convergence as a result of what we consider to be pragmatism between the two actors who want to shape public understanding of the COVID pandemic for their own purposes," she said. The Global Engagement Center earlier said thousands of Russian-linked social media accounts were spreading conspiracies about the pandemic, including charging that the virus first detected last year in the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan was created by the United States. China outraged the United States when a foreign ministry spokesman tweeted a conspiracy that the US military brought the virus to Wuhan, but the two countries reached an informal rhetorical truce in late March after telephone talks between President Donald Trump and his counterpart Xi Jinping.

US accuses China and Russia of coordinating to spread virus conspiracies

The fatal shooting of a Chinese professor called Bing Liu, on US soil is fuelling wild conspiracy&nbsp;theories across the globe.

The 37-year-old assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,&nbsp;was found dead in his house.

According to the local police department, he was found with multiple gunshot wounds to the head, neck, torso and extremities at his home in the Pittsburgh suburbs.

Interestingly,&nbsp;he was close to making "significant findings" on his studies of COVID-19, according to his colleagues. This has sparked&nbsp;online speculation it was an assassination.

The gunman who shot him was his acquaintance, a 46-year-old software engineer called Hao Gu.&nbsp;

The investigation has determined it was a murder-suicide resulting from "a lengthy dispute regarding an intimate partner".

Homicide detectives&nbsp;said there was "zero evidence" the case was linked to Liu's research work and the current public health crisis.

Many comments on Chinese social media platform Weibo suggested Liu's Chinese background may have put him at risk in the US, though no evidence has emerged that Liu was targeted because of his ethnicity.

The fatal shooting of a Chinese professor called Bing Liu, on US soil is fuelling wild conspiracy theories across the globe. The 37-year-old assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, was found dead in his house.

The fatal shooting of a Chinese professor called Bing Liu, on US soil is fuelling wild conspiracy theories across the globe. The 37-year-old assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, was found dead in his house. According to the local police department, he was found with multiple gunshot wounds to the head, neck, torso and extremities at his home in the Pittsburgh suburbs. Interestingly, he was close to making "significant findings" on his studies of COVID-19, according to his colleagues. This has sparked online speculation it was an assassination. The gunman who shot him was his acquaintance, a 46-year-old software engineer called Hao Gu. The investigation has determined it was a murder-suicide resulting from "a lengthy dispute regarding an intimate partner". Homicide detectives said there was "zero evidence" the case was linked to Liu's research work and the current public health crisis. Many comments on Chinese social media platform Weibo suggested Liu's Chinese background may have put him at risk in the US, though no evidence has emerged that Liu was targeted because of his ethnicity.

Chinese professor's murder in US fuels conspiracy theories

Former high profile members of the Pakistani political establishment have become conspiracy theorists. On Pakistani television and social media, they are pushing Chinese propaganda on the Coronavirus outbreak. WION's Palki Sharma brings you a fact check.

Gravitas: Pakistani conspiracy theorists echo Chinese propaganda | Coronavirus