The discovery of an extensive Chinese influence operation named ‘Dragonbridge’ by Google has raised concerns, particularly in the context of TikTok’s defense against a proposed U.S. ban. Google has reported detecting 10,000 new instances of Dragonbridge activities in early 2024, adding to the 50,000 instances identified in 2022 and 65,000 in 2023 across platforms like YouTube and Blogger.

Dragonbridge operates by creating profiles and sharing low-quality, news-related content mixed with occasional posts that support pro-PRC (People’s Republic of China) views. This includes commentary critical of the U.S., aimed at exploiting political divisions and influencing global opinions. The operation has targeted significant events such as elections in Taiwan and the Israel-Hamas conflict.

While primarily targeting Chinese-speaking audiences, Dragonbridge has expanded into English-language content and utilizes AI-generated presenters to enhance its appeal. Google has been improving its detection methods but acknowledges ongoing efforts by Chinese groups to influence international sentiment and promote pro-China narratives.

For TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, this poses a potential concern despite no direct link between Dragonbridge and TikTok being established. The presence of former Chinese Communist Party staff at ByteDance and China’s involvement in content regulation for the app raise suspicions about possible similar influence operations targeting TikTok’s global user base.

As TikTok continues its legal battle against the U.S. ban, the implications of ongoing Chinese influence operations remain a critical issue. The lack of public access to security briefings given to senators underscores the complexity and sensitivity of the situation, suggesting potential vulnerabilities in platforms like TikTok that could be exploited for geopolitical influence.