The Chinese government has built up the world’s largest known online disinformation operation and is using it to harass US residents, politicians, and businesses—at times threatening its targets with violence, a CNN review of court documents and public disclosures by social media companies has found.

The onslaught of attacks – often of a vile and deeply personal nature – is part of a well-organized, increasingly brazen Chinese government intimidation campaign targeting people in the United States, documents show.

The US State Department says the tactics are part of a broader multi-billion-dollar effort to shape the world’s information environment and silence critics of Beijing that has expanded under President Xi Jinping. On Wednesday, President Biden is due to meet Xi at a summit in San Francisco.

Victims face a barrage of tens of thousands of social media posts that call them traitors, dogs, and racist and homophobic slurs. They say it’s all part of an effort to drive them into a state of constant fear and paranoia.

    • SCB@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I call it “You need to get involved in local politics and run your candidates through the system.”

      Bernie Sanders would never call himself a capitalist. If you want to change the system, elect 50 of him.

      • RichCaffeineFlavor@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Bernie Sanders can call himself a strawberry crepe if he wants to. He’s a new deal democrat. Not only just a social democrat but one who lines up to support every foreign adventure the US sets out on.

        And you’re dodging the point. This is a country that murders leftists when they get too organized. You’re not allowed to vote for another system.

        • SCB@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          Cool, so start there and drive it forward. Or run a credible third party from the grassroots up.

          It’s nonsensical to suggest that “outsider” candidates and beliefs can win in our system when the Tea Party, MAGA, and shit like Moms For Liberty all represent a new direction that has never existed in US politics.

          You can’t credibly say it can’t be done, you just don’t want to be the one to do it. That’s fine, but be intellectually honest about it.

          Leftist candidates can’t win in the US because leftism isnt popular. If you want to change that, you can.

          This is a country that murders leftists when they get too organized

          This is nonsense and just you copping out.

          • StalinsSpoon@lemm.ee
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            8 months ago

            This is nonsense and just you copping out.

            The assassinations of MLK, Malcolm X, and Fred Hampton were just coincidences, then? Sure seems like any credible movement wound up being eliminated if it required any systemic change.

            • SCB@lemmy.world
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              8 months ago

              These are civil rights leaders from 70 years ago, not current leftists.

              Again, this is just a massive cop-out on your part.

              The reason leftists will never succeed in America is that they are completely unwilling or unable to do the work required - that’s their only barrier of entry.

              You’ll note all of the above actually succeeded in their goals, as well.

              • RichCaffeineFlavor@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                “You can’t say it can’t be done” “yes I can, look at history” “lol history doesn’t count”

                You’ll note all of the above actually succeeded in their goals, as well.

                According to Tucker Carlson maybe

                And those aren’t the last people to get murdered for organizing as leftists. Look up what happened to the original BLM organizers. Add “car fire” to the search terms if you have trouble.