Deng Yuwen, a Chinese dissident writer living in the suburbs of Philadelphia, has been the target of a disturbing online harassment campaign. The attacks are believed to be orchestrated by a Chinese ministry as retaliation for his criticism of the country’s Communist Party and its leader, Xi Jinping. What makes this situation even more alarming is that the campaign has now extended to his 16-year-old daughter.
The harassment, which includes sexually suggestive threats, has been carried out through a covert propaganda network connected to China’s security services. Fake social media accounts have been used to post vile and false content about Mr. Deng and his daughter. These posts have not only appeared on Mr. Deng’s social media accounts but also on public school pages in their community.
Despite Mr. Deng’s efforts to delete these posts, the attackers continue to create new accounts and post defamatory content. The attacks have even spread to popular platforms like Facebook, TripAdvisor, Patch, and Niche. The situation has become so severe that researchers have linked thousands of these posts to a network known as Spamouflage or Dragonbridge, which is part of China’s propaganda apparatus.
This online intimidation campaign is not an isolated incident. It is part of a larger pattern of aggressive tactics used by the Chinese government to silence critics both at home and abroad. The brazenness of these attacks has raised concerns not only in Washington but also in other countries like Canada.
The fact that a teenager is being targeted in this campaign is particularly troubling. The online harassment has not only affected Mr. Deng but has also put his daughter in a vulnerable and dangerous position. The psychological impact of such attacks on a young person cannot be overstated.
The situation highlights the growing threat of online disinformation campaigns and the need for stronger measures to protect individuals, especially those who speak out against oppressive regimes. It serves as a reminder of the importance of defending freedom of speech and standing up against those who seek to suppress it, no matter where they are in the world.