A China-linked influence campaign used fake social media accounts to impersonate a human rights group and incite unrest in Spain.
According to a new report, the operation exploited public anger after the devastating October floods in Valencia. The American social network analysis firm Graphika identified the campaign, which ran from November to January.
Accounts connected to the Spamouflage network spread content on platforms like Facebook, X, BlueSky, and TikTok. The posts criticized Spain’s central government and Valencia Governor Carlos Mazon in both English and Spanish.
Impersonation and Political Manipulation
Spamouflage operatives posed as Safeguard Defenders, a Madrid-based human rights group, to spread disinformation and fuel distrust in Spanish leadership.
The fake accounts shared posts condemning the government’s response to the floods, which killed over 200 people. They amplified public frustration with Mazon, who resisted calls to resign despite widespread criticism.
Spanish citizens directed their anger not only at regional officials but also at national leaders. Protesters in Paiporta chased Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and King Felipe VI out of the flood-stricken town. A far-right group later claimed responsibility for the violence against Sanchez.
Escalation in Foreign Influence Operations
Graphika’s report indicates that this marks the first time Spamouflage has openly called for a government’s removal.
The network, active since 2017, has previously attempted to sow political discord in the U.S. and Canada. This latest campaign represents an escalation in its tactics.
Spamouflage denies any affiliation with the Chinese government, but Western analysts remain skeptical. The influence operation underscores the growing use of disinformation to exploit crises and destabilize governments.