What happened

Dubbed "Sponsored Discontent," the campaign involved the creation of Spanish-language articles critical of the United States, which were subsequently published in mainstream newspapers across Mexico, Peru and Ecuador.

The articles focused on U.S. political discord and issues such as drug addiction, homelessness, racism and crime. Some of these pieces appeared as sponsored content in Latin American publications.

The operation used ChatGPT accounts to generate Spanish-language articles by translating and expanding Chinese content, and produce English-language comments attacking Chinese dissident Cai Xia. 

The content was created during business hours in mainland China, with some articles bearing the byline of a company called Jil Yousen Culture Communication Co..

Why it happened

The influence operation is part of China's broader strategy to expand its leverage in Latin America, encompassing economic entanglements, critical infrastructure investments, and information control. 

By manipulating public opinion through seemingly legitimate news sources, China aims to reshape regional alignments and counterbalance U.S. influence in the region.