Securing Democracy Dispatch

Russian state-affiliated accounts have leveraged the destructive wildfires in Los Angeles to sow division, undermine trust in relief efforts, and question support for Ukraine, even amplifying a misleading image generated by artificial intelligence (AI), Research Assistant Krystyna Sikora wrote for ASD.

Several of the European parties that Elon Musk has praised, including Alternative for Germany, have been among the “most susceptible to influence from authoritarian” and anti-US “regimes in Moscow and Beijing”, Research Analyst Etienne Soula told Courthouse News Service.

Russian diplomats and state media focused on two main narratives this week:

• California Wildfires: Russian state media used the wildfires in Los Angeles to criticize city authorities, the California government, the Biden administration, and US capitalism. RT Español accused Los Angeles authorities of mismanagement, citing cuts to the city’s fire department budget and funding for a transgender café and a gay men’s choir. Pro-Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyev resorted to similar homophobic rhetoric and criticized Kristin Crowley, the first openly lesbian woman serving as fire chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, for allegedly firing the “previous team” and recruiting new employees based on shared “views and values”. RT blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom for choosing “fire deaths” by refusing Russia’s offer of sending firefighting planes to the state. RT en Español also quoted Texas governor Greg Abbott, who chastised the Biden administration for approving $500 million in aid for Ukraine instead of sending that money to fire-ravaged California. 
• Greenland: Russian propaganda outlets last week speculated on a potential military takeover of Greenland, arguing that the move would violate international law while also hinting that such a move would justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s minister of foreign affairs, defended the rights of Greenlanders to “self-determine” their future, just as Russia has supposedly listened to the people’s will in “Crimea, Donbass, and Novorossiya”. Meanwhile, Russian Senator Valentina Matviyenko raised concerns about possible violations of international law if Greenland becomes part of the United States. Considering the possibility of a US military intervention, Lenta.ru predicted that Denmark might ask Russia for protection, citing an unnamed “local deputy” in Greenland. It also mocked Ukraine because, according to recently signed bilateral agreements with Denmark, Ukraine would have to defend Greenland in the event of a US invasion. 

The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) diplomats and state media focused on two main narratives this week: 

• California Wildfires: Last week, PRC messaging extensively covered the “stunning and devastating impact” of wildfires in Los Angeles. The Consul General in Belfast, Ireland, shared a video of distraught victims, CGTN America showed “thousands of people in makeshift shelters”, and CGTN International showcased “harrowing fire escape stories” from Los Angelinos, many of whom commented that they had received “no warning” from the government. Xinhua relayed criticism of Los Angeles’ mayor, the Global Times argued that money sent to Ukraine would have been better spent on disaster relief, and a Pakistan-based PRC diplomat contrasted the fires in California with a 2022 fire in China where “instead of fleeing”, the affected city’s inhabitants “rallied together … with unwavering determination”.
• Earthquake in Tibet: PRC diplomats and state media lionized rescue efforts after an earthquake struck Tibet last Thursday, juxtaposing those efforts with those in California. The speed of rescue teams was a recurring theme, with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying claiming that planes carrying aid had arrived “just 10 minutes” after the earthquake hit and China News reporting on prefabricated homes being built “in just [eight] minutes”. Coverage showed that no expense was spared, with drones lighting up the disaster zone, wounded victims being airlifted to hospitals, and children’s birthday parties being organized by rescuers. 

OpenAI unveils blueprint for advancing US leadership on AI: On Monday, OpenAI released an “Economic Blueprint” that outlines policy recommendations on AI regulation and competition that the company says will help advance the United States’ global leadership role and values in AI innovation against autocratic countries. Co-Managing Director Rachael Dean Wilson said, “With rapid advancements in AI, it’s critical that industry is a true partner to policymakers who must balance winning the AI competition with protecting Americans from AI harms. This policy blueprint acknowledges both and calls for “democratic AI, reinforcing that US values should shape the advancement of AI. The new Congress should make AI policy and regulation a priority and avoid the same mistake it made with social media platforms: doing nothing.” 

American TikTok users flock to RedNote, another Chinese-owned app: The Chinese-owned social media application RedNote gained 700,000 new users in two days and surged to the top of the App Store and Google Play Store’s social media app categories, fueled largely by Americans who have left TikTok in anticipation of its shutdown in the United States. Investigative Data and Research Analyst Peter Benzoni told the Dispatch, “In preparation of the anticipated TikTok ban to take place early next week, waves of ‘TikTok Refugees’ are seeking asylum in RedNote, another Chinese-owned application whose name alludes to Mao Zedong’s Little Red Book. Despite being heavily censored—the app restricts speech critical of the Chinese Communist Party, more akin to Douyin than TikTok—many are migrating to the app not only to thumb their nose at Congress, but also due to anger over Meta’s lobbying and distaste for alternatives, particularly Meta’s Reels. New and old RedNote users alike are, predictably, memeing through it. This rapid cultural exchange and development of communal practices, such as cat taxes and subtitling etiquette, heralds the emergence of a syncretic third culture—assuming that RedNote does not get banned too.”

In Case You Missed It

• The Biden administration issued a sweeping executive order on cybersecurity, including requiring government vendors to prove they are meeting certain cybersecurity standards and mandating federal agencies encrypt internal communications.
• Germany’s defense ministry and national army, as well as the city of Paris, will shut down their X accounts, citing what they see as increasing inability to have factual debate on the site.
• A network of inauthentic, pro-Kremlin accounts pushed and amplified anti-NATO and anti-EU content on X, Facebook, Reddit, TikTok, and Telegram before Croatia’s presidential election runoff this past Sunday, according to independent Croatian researchers.
• Polish officials alleged that Russia has begun conducting information campaigns to heighten domestic tensions ahead of Polish presidential elections this spring.

Pro-Russian disinformation makes its Bluesky debut. Investigative Data and Research Analyst Peter Benzoni quoted in AFP

As storm Trump approaches, EU tries to play it cool. Senior Manager for Europe and Fellow Vassilis Ntousas quoted in AFP

“The goal is to make it costly and harder for China, Russia, Iran and ransomware criminals to hack and to also signal that America means business when it comes to protecting our businesses and our citizens.”

—Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger said during a press briefing on Biden’s cybersecurity executive order on January 15.

The views expressed in GMF publications and commentary are the views of the author alone.