Battle of Ideas in Cyberspace - Chinas Online Propaganda Warriors

From Khaleej Times: Battle of ideas in cyberspace

"CHINA, which at one time viewed the Internet with suspicion as West‘s propaganda tool to influence its country‘s youth, has now turned to it to mould public opinion in a subtle and sophisticated way. Beijing has started using ‘cyber agents‘ to spread positive political messages on the Net in an attempt to stem negative propaganda within the country.

Several Chinese cities have recruited officials, adept at PR art, as ‘online propaganda troops‘ to infiltrate chat rooms and other virtual forums to ‘sex up‘ positive opinion about the government and its law-enforcing agencies. By the end of last year, 127 propaganda warriors were reported to have received training in Beijing on ways to create a spin for the government."

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