Chinese company GoLaxy developed an AI-powered propaganda system called GoPro that can track public opinion, create targeted disinformation, and conduct influence operations at scale, with documented campaigns in Hong Kong and Taiwan while collecting data on US officials.
GoLaxy, a Chinese company founded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and working with China's Ministry of State Security, developed an AI system called the Smart Propaganda System (GoPro) that uses advanced artificial intelligence to conduct influence operations. The system can track public debates, monitor individuals and their arguments, and mass-produce propaganda to counter shifts in public opinion. According to leaked internal documents from 2020-2023 obtained by Vanderbilt University researchers, GoLaxy has undertaken influence campaigns in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and collected data on 117 current and former US Congress members, over 2,000 American political figures, and 4,000 right-wing influencers. The company brings in tens of millions of pieces of data daily from platforms including Weibo, WeChat, X, and Facebook to create detailed profiles on individuals. During China's Covid lockdown, GoLaxy attempted to amplify Elon Musk's praise of Chinese pandemic policies using fake Facebook accounts. The firm also tracked 180,000 Twitter accounts in Hong Kong to counter opposition to the 2020 National Security Law, and conducted information operations during Taiwan's 2024 election to undermine the Democratic Progressive Party. The system uses DeepSeek, an advanced Chinese AI model, to automatically generate believable propaganda content that can adapt in real-time and avoid detection.
Domain classification, causal taxonomy, severity scores, and national security assessments were LLM-classified and may contain errors.
Using AI systems to conduct large-scale disinformation campaigns, malicious surveillance, or targeted and sophisticated automated censorship and propaganda, with the aim of manipulating political processes, public opinion, and behavior.
AI system
Due to a decision or action made by an AI system
Intentional
Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal
Post-deployment
Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed