In August 2023, the Chinese state-linked network Spamouflage exploited the deadly wildfires in Maui, Hawaii to spread conspiratorial narratives and test new influence tactics, including disseminating AI-generated images. The campaign, which comprised a network of at least 85 fake social media accounts and blog posts across dozens of websites and platforms, alleged that the US government had deliberately started the fires to test a military-grade “weather weapon”. These posts were often accompanied by sensational AI-generated images of burning coastal roads and residences presumably to drive engagement. Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center, which discovered the campaign, identified inauthentic posts in 31 languages and suggested the purpose of the campaign was to build the network’s audience and find new authentic accounts it could engage with for future influence operations.