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Network Contagion Research Institute Intelligence Report 24 APPENDIX I OSINT Analysis of @UyghurBeauty In the user journey performed for “Uyghur,” we observed that 40% of all video content collected on YouTube was uploaded by a single channel, @uyghurbeauty. On YouTube, @uyghurbeauty has 96K subscribers, a total of nearly 50M aggregate views, and over 3K video uploads. The channel description is a generic “Discover the beauty of Uyghur culture and traditions,” and a link is provided to an identically named Instagram profile, @uyghurbeauty, with 161K followers. The @uyghurbeauty YouTube channel is based in the United States, while the Instagram’s location is not specified. Most of the recent content is highly formulaic, characterized by a music video or folksong with the following cookie-cutter text appended in the description: “We share Uyghur folk songs and Uyghur traditional dance. You will learn about Uyghur people and enjoy the beauty of Uyghur culture. Uyghur Beauty Channel operates exclusively on YouTube. Please don't forget to hit the like button and subscribe to see more!” On Instagram, a similar content pattern is observed alongside the addition of a largely static list of hashtags that include: #uyghur #uyghursong #uyghurbeauty #uyghurgarden #uighur #uyghurpeople #uyghurtraditions #uyghurculture. Figure 15: @uyghurbeauty Instagram Profile Though passive OSINT techniques do not allow for a definitive identification of the channel’s operator or its real geographic base of operations, it remains an emblematic example of a Chinese media asset that uses its high-reach and high-frequency of posting to co-opt and dominate social chatter around Uyghur-related keywords and hashtags. This modus operandi has effectively skewed YouTube content to nearly 52.6% pro-China, and provides a qualitative contrast to the official media sources (CGTN, South China Morning Post, etc.) that skewed YouTube content for “Xinjiang” to 52% pro-China. Another curious YouTube channel we observed is the similarly-named @uyghurgarden (note that @uyghurbeauty repeatedly shares the hashtag #uyghurgarden on Instagram, suggesting though not proving a connection between the two channel operators). @uyghurgarden has 937K

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The CCP's Digital Charm Offensive: How TikTok's Search Algorithm and Pro-China Influence Networks Indoctrinate GenZ Users in the United States

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English

Topic

Information Operation

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Network Contagion Research Institute

Date Published: Aug 8, 2024

Abstract: In December 2023, the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) published an initial report that found a strong possibility of content on TikTok being either amplified or suppressed based on its alignment with the interests of the Chinese Government. The report concluded with a warning: “should future research find that TikTok users exhibit attitudes and assessments of world events aligned with these information distortions, democracies will need to consider appropriate countermeasures to protect information integrity and mitigate potential real-world impacts.” These findings underscored the urgency of investigating the specific mechanisms and broader implications of potential algorithmic manipulations. While our initial study shed light on the potential for content manipulation on TikTok, it did not explore whether specific moderation algorithms or practices are used to suppress topics sensitive to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Moreover, it did not compare the nature and impact of pro- and anti-CCP content across other major social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. This current report addresses these gaps by providing a more comprehensive analysis of TikTok's moderation practices, examining the nature and prevalence of CCP-sensitive content, and evaluating how different platforms handle such content. Furthermore, this study explores the association between social media platform usage and pro-CCP attitudes among users. By combining user journey data, survey research, and cross-platform comparisons, we uncover the extent to which TikTok and other platforms may influence user perceptions and behaviors in favor of the CCP. The publication of this research precedes the delivery of oral arguments for TikTok Inc. and ByteDance Ltd. v. Merrick B. Garland, a federal court case that has subjected the TikTok algorithm to intensive new scrutiny. As detailed in the DOJ’s response to TikTok’s lawsuit, “covert content manipulation” is an area of legal interest for the DOJ, not to mention its relevance to the broader U.S. intelligence and national security community. That said, within the DOJ response it is noted that definitively proving covert content manipulation by the Chinese government remains a challenge. As FBI Director Wray testified to in multiple hearings, “[t]his sort of manipulation of the algorithm would be difficult to detect..."1 This research gap sets the stage for our findings, which, while not definitive proof of state orchestration, present compelling and strong circumstantial evidence of TikTok’s covert content manipulation. In response to the DOJ's acknowledgment of challenges in proving manipulation by the Chinese government, our findings present the following circumstantial evidence: • Algorithmic Bias: TikTok's algorithms consistently amplify pro-CCP content and suppress anti-CCP narratives. • Content Origination: Much of the pro-CCP content originates from state-linked entities, including media outlets and influencers. • Psychological Impact: Survey data shows significant shifts in user attitudes towards China, especially among heavy TikTok users, indicating successful indoctrination. These points collectively indicate a systematic manipulation of information, suggesting that propaganda produced by state actors and orchestrated through assets owned or influenced by them shapes user perceptions at a massive scale.

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The CCP's Digital Charm Offensive: How TikTok's Search Algorithm and Pro-China Influence Networks Indoctrinate GenZ Users in the United States

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