A shocking online deception has been uncovered, revealing how a secret Chinese social media campaign, known as Spamouflage, tried to create political chaos in Spain. Investigators at Graphika, a group that tracks online threats, found that fake accounts pretended to be a well-known human rights organisation, Safeguard Defenders.
The trick was carefully planned. It happened right after massive floods hit Valencia, killing 224 people last October. While Spain was mourning the terrible disaster, these fake accounts flooded social media with videos and posts calling for the Spanish government to be overthrown. One of the most alarming videos featured a masked person pretending to represent Safeguard Defenders, claiming that Spain’s leaders had abandoned the people and must be removed from power.
The video spread quickly on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), causing outrage and confusion. Though the platform later removed the video, the damage was already done. Many people who saw the false information believed it to be real, adding fuel to political tensions in the country.
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A Web of Lies Spanning the World
This is not the first time Spamouflage has been caught spreading lies and creating chaos. Investigators revealed that this shadowy Chinese campaign has been operating since 2017, targeting different countries across the world.
- In the United States, Spamouflage spread false information during the 2024 elections, pretending to be American voters.
- In Canada, it targeted politicians, including the Prime Minister, by pushing fake news and misleading stories.
- Now, in Spain, it has taken a dangerous new turn by directly calling for the government to be overthrown—something never seen before in its previous campaigns.
The operation is highly organised, using dozens of fake social media accounts to spread their false messages. The aim is always the same: to create division, confusion, and anger among people
Even though investigators have repeatedly exposed Spamouflage’s tricks, the campaign keeps adapting and finding new ways to spread its false narratives.
No Answers from China or Spain
After this scandal was exposed, people wanted answers. Many turned to the Chinese embassy in Spain and the Spanish government, expecting them to address the issue. However, both remained completely silent.
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China has always denied interfering in other countries’ affairs. During the 2024 US election, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington claimed that China had “no intention” of influencing the vote. But with this latest discovery in Spain, those statements are now under serious doubt.
Meanwhile, Safeguard Defenders, the real human rights organisation that was impersonated, revealed that it has been under attack for years. Ever since it published a 2022 report exposing secret Chinese police stations in Europe, the group has faced continuous online harassment.
Graphika has confirmed with high confidence that the fake accounts involved in this Spanish operation were part of Spamouflage. According to their latest findings, this is the first time the campaign has directly encouraged the removal of a foreign government.
As Spain continues to recover from the devastating Valencia floods, the discovery of foreign interference has added more turmoil to an already difficult situation. This incident raises serious concerns about the growing power of fake news, online manipulation, and digital warfare in today’s world.
