In a major revelation, global social media giant Meta has uncovered an extensive covert influence operation originating from China, aimed at discrediting the Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and targeting the Tibetan exile community. This revelation, detailed in Meta’s Fourth Quarter 2024 Adversarial Threat Report, exposes Beijing’s persistent efforts to manipulate narratives surrounding Tibet through coordinated disinformation campaigns.
Covert Propaganda Network Unmasked
Meta’s investigation led to the removal of 18 fake Facebook accounts, two pages, four groups, and five Instagram accounts, all linked to a China-based influence operation. These accounts were primarily designed to spread falsehoods about the Dalai Lama’s health, amplify anti-Dalai Lama rhetoric, and propagate content aligning with Chinese state interests.
According to Meta, the campaign was strategically targeted at Tibetan exile communities, particularly in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. The operation extended beyond Meta-owned platforms, with traces found on X (formerly Twitter), Blogspot, and other social media sites.
“The individuals behind this activity used fake accounts—many of which were detected and disabled by our automated systems before our investigation—to manage pages, post, and amplify other people’s content,” Meta stated.
Fake Identities and Proxy Accounts
To evade detection, the operation used proxy IPs to disguise its origins, making it appear as though the accounts were based in India, Nepal, or Bhutan. Some accounts impersonated journalists, including one falsely claiming to be from Arunachal Pradesh, a region China has frequently sought to undermine in its territorial disputes with India.
The majority of these fraudulent accounts posed as Tibetan expatriates, crafting an illusion of authenticity while pushing anti-Dalai Lama narratives in English and Tibetan. The content they shared focused on spreading conspiracy theories about the Dalai Lama’s health and movements while insinuating that the United States was using him as a geopolitical tool against China.
Amplifying Anti-Dalai Lama Content
Meta’s report highlighted that the network regularly boosted content from dubious sources, including:
– Storify News
– Dakini Translations and Publications
– A Change.org petition promoting anti-Dalai Lama narratives
This tactic of amplifying seemingly organic voices is a common feature of Chinese disinformation campaigns, allowing state-backed narratives to gain credibility and traction among unsuspecting audiences.
Part of a Larger Disinformation Strategy
Meta’s investigation into this campaign stemmed from its ongoing efforts to combat recidivist (repeat offender) networks. In Q3 2023, the company had previously taken down a similar influence operation from China, which targeted Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh through 12 fake accounts and seven groups.
This latest exposure underlines China’s long-term digital influence strategy against Tibetan communities. By deploying sophisticated disinformation tactics, Beijing aims to control the global discourse on Tibet, erode support for the Dalai Lama, and undermine the legitimacy of the Tibetan exile movement.
Meta’s Response and the Bigger Picture
Meta emphasized that the takedown occurred before the network could establish a substantial following. However, the presence of at least 2,400 Facebook followers and 120 group members, alongside 100 Instagram followers, signals the potential reach of these influence operations before being dismantled.
The revelation of this campaign is another example of China’s relentless cyber-warfare and narrative manipulation targeting Tibetan communities. Experts argue that Beijing’s obsession with controlling Tibet’s story is not just about historical grievances but also about future geopolitical control—especially regarding the upcoming reincarnation of the 15th Dalai Lama.
This disinformation campaign serves as a stark reminder that digital battlegrounds are now central to China’s repression tactics, extending far beyond Tibet into the global Tibetan diaspora. As tech giants like Meta crack down on such influence operations, the question remains—how many more remain undiscovered?
