Tamás Matura
The use of AI-driven propaganda and deepfake technologies has significantly escalated the scale and sophistication of disinformation, posing unprecedented challenges from Russia and China for Western intelligence and democratic institutions.
Executive Summary While Russian and Chinese foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) operations may appear to affect only the soft power of the US and its allies, these actions have a fundamental impact on hard power and national security as well. Moscow and Beijing use different tools and pursue different goals, but both seek to undermine the domestic cohesion of Western societies. This, in turn, weakens the Western alliance system, ultimately diminishing US power and its ability to act globally.
China and Russia, while differing in style and intent, increasingly align in their FIMI efforts, aiming to weaken Western democracies, erode public trust, and promote multipolarity through shared anti-Western narratives and media amplification.
Both countries employ state-controlled media, cyber intrusions, content generated by artificial intelligence (AI), and social media influence campaigns — often reinforcing each other’s messages without formal coordination. This is done to manipulate public perception globally, particularly during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the war in Ukraine.
Case studies reveal their growing presence and influence in regions such as Africa, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. While evidence of direct coordination remains limited, their activities in discrediting democratic processes, especially around Taiwan and US elections, show alarming parallels. The use of local influencers amplifies their outreach and enhances their credibility with local audiences.
Western openness and media freedom are being exploited, as FIMI actors thrive on creating polarization, undermining NATO and European Union (EU) cohesion, and exploiting societal fault lines.
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