Security officials identify Indian social media influencers peddling Chinese propaganda, warn govt EXCLUSIVE: A list of over a dozen social media influencers, including YouTubers, who are allegedly furthering China’s narratives is being shared with the Union government for action
安全官員確認印度社交媒體影響者在兜售中國宣傳品，並警告政府
獨家：一份包括YouTubers在內的十多名社交媒體有影響力人士的名單正被提交給聯邦政府，以便採取行動。
The Indian security establishment has zeroed in on over a dozen Indian social media influencers and vloggers who have allegedly been peddling Chinese government narratives, with grave implications for the country’s national security. INDIA TODAY has exclusively learnt that a comprehensive list made by China watchers in South Block, and based on intelligence inputs and regular monitoring of these influencers’ activities and social media posts, is now being shared with the Union government for action.
The security establishment is apprehensive that these influencers, allegedly motivated by financial gains, could pose a serious risk by contributing to a manipulative ecosystem run by Chinese state agencies. They have massive following—some in millions—among youngsters, so their posts matter a lot in shaping public opinion, which is why the urgency of addressing the threat.
Officials believe it is all part of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) strategy of using foreign social media influencers in adversary countries like India to shape and disseminate ‘preferred’ narratives domestically and internationally. And it is aimed at debunking media reporting and academic research and refuting statements by foreign governments.
According to sources in the security establishment, the emerging Chinese propaganda using Indian social media influencers (including YouTubers) threatens to condition how certain segments of the Indian population perceive China and its policies.
印度安全機構已經鎖定了十幾名印度社交媒體影響者和視頻博客作者，據稱他們一直在兜售中國政府的言論，對印度的國家安全造成了嚴重影響。印度今日報》獨家獲悉，南區的中國觀察家們根據情報和對這些有影響力者的活動和社交媒體帖子的定期監測，列出了一份綜合名單，目前正與聯邦政府分享，以便採取行動。
據安全機構的消息來源稱，中國利用印度社交媒體影響者（包括 YouTubers）進行的新宣傳有可能影響印度某些人群對中國及其政策的看法。
Security establishment sources maintain that while some vloggers genuinely aim to foster cross-cultural understanding, others play into the hands of the Chinese propaganda machinery. The stereotypes propagated often perpetuate a highly superficial and simplified view of Indian life and reinforce the preconceived notions that the Chinese public holds about Indians.
“Given their substantial following across multiple social media platforms, these influencers have the ability to shape narratives that could have implications for national security, particularly if they propagate misinformation or biased perspectives,” said a South Block official, who did not wish to be named.
Indian security officials have figured out that the intricacy lies in the sponsorship arrangement, wherein the suspect vloggers’ expenses are covered by China and they are also granted access to restricted areas like Xinjiang and Tibet. The content produced by the YouTubers primarily focuses on pro-China narratives, including refuting the genocide allegations in Uyghur (in Xinjiang), besides also projecting a positive view of Chinese governance in Xinjiang and Tibet. By showcasing these areas positively, the Indian vloggers help China counter Western perspectives. A similar trend was also observed among foreign influencers active on western social media platforms.
According to a report prepared by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, since 2020, 156 Chinese state-controlled accounts on US-based social media platforms have published at least 556 Facebook posts, Twitter posts and articles on China Global Television Network (CGTN), Global Times, Xinhua news agency and China Daily websites, amplifying Xinjiang-related social media content from 14 influencer accounts.
According to security establishment sources, for instance, one of the suspect Indian vloggers explores various regions, including Xinjiang, Beijing, Shanghai and Hotan (under which Aksai Chin falls). The vlogger covers diverse topics, such as the extreme rural life of the Uyghur Chinese, visits to Uyghur mosques and interactions with local communities, including Uyghur Muslims and Tibetans. The titles of the videos often use attention-grabbing words like “shocking” and “surprising”. The videos suggest good infrastructure and governance in the regions the vlogger visits, particularly Xinjiang, under CPC.
This situation highlights significant concerns regarding the influence wielded by compromised Indian YouTubers. The security establishment believes that only by constantly scrutinising the content produced by them can India’s national interests be safeguarded and integrity of information disseminated in the public domain maintained.
根據澳大利亞戰略政策研究所（Australian Strategic Policy Institute）編寫的一份報告，自 2020 年以來，美國社交媒體平台上的 156 個中國國家控制的賬戶至少在中國環球電視網（CGTN）、環球時報、新華社和中國日報網站上發布了 556 篇 Facebook 帖子、Twitter 帖子和文章，放大了 14 個有影響力賬戶的新疆相關社交媒體內容。
Security officials identify Indian social media influencers peddling Chinese propaganda, warn govt
EXCLUSIVE: A list of over a dozen social media influencers, including YouTubers, who are allegedly f ...
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