Graphika In The News: NHK Worldwide Japan Talks Online Impact Of Chinese-State Actors With Graphika

Graphika's Tariff Tirade report is the subject of a new report from NHK World Japan looking at what it calls "the rise of 'America skepticism.'"

Tariff Tirade examines a China-aligned network posting as grassroots voices in an effort to covertly boost online narratives critical of U.S. tariffs and trade policies.

Graphika identified a network of over 1,000 X accounts engaged in coordinated and inauthentic behavior in an effort to change the online information environment surrounding the U.S.-China trade war with everything from fake personas, stolen content from authentic users, and coordinated amplification of hashtags and news articles.

In his story, NHK correspondent Yohei Fukuda examined the ways that China is seeking to sow doubt and shape public opinion in its favor - noting that Graphika's report provides evidence of Beijing's attempts to share positive narratives about China and boost its position in the international community.

Graphika Analyst Margot Hardy told NHK that "Graphika observed multiple Chinese actors -- state-media actors, Chinese officials, pro-China actors -- pushing anti-American tariffs claims" in a companion report entitled Tariffs to Tension.

Hardy dissected instances of Spamouflage-linked accounts posted cartoons framing the tariffs as a “bomb” that would hurt ordinary people. Graphika was able to assess that the accounts are likely Spamouflage assets based on their use of randomly generated usernames and stock or stolen profile pictures, plus exclusive engagement with other Spamouflage-linked accounts.

NHK World Japan also asked Graphika about viral videos on social media that claim to educate consumers about how to evade U.S. tariffs by purchasing products directly from Chinese manufacturers.

"It is different. It is really another trend, another layer, into all of this spread of narratives," Hardy told NHK, while noting that it is difficult to link the content directly to a specific Chinese-state actor.