Message Manipulation by Nation States Online

This white paper examines the tactics employed by nation states to manipulate messaging on the internet, focusing on inauthentic promotion and censorship. It outlines how foreign adversaries utilize these strategies to shape narratives, suppress dissent, and influence public opinion. The document details the subtlety of modern manipulation techniques, contrasting them with overt censorship methods. It highlights the role of state-affiliated accounts, particularly from the People's Republic of China, in promoting specific narratives while drowning out dissenting voices. The paper also discusses the evolution of censorship practices, particularly in China and Russia, and how these practices adapt to changing political landscapes. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of contextualized data in understanding the motivations behind these manipulative tactics and the need for accurate data collection to inform U.S. government responses. The complexities of identifying inauthentic activities and the pitfalls in research methodologies are also addressed, stressing the necessity of a comprehensive approach to studying online manipulation.