Election Document Index
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Summary of Assessed Chinese Influence and Cyber-Operation Plans, Part 1

A one-page summary asserts that China planned influence and cyber activities ahead of the 2020 presidential election, with this part focusing on economic-recession and COVID-19 themes.

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01

Overarching assessment

The summary asserts that Chinese plans sought to exploit perceived or real U.S. social divisions and vulnerabilities to influence audiences and, indirectly, U.S. government decision-making. The visible page does not provide sourcing for that assessment, and a term describing one potential type of activity is redacted.

“The China plans were designed to exploit U.S. societal fissures and vulnerabilities, to influence U.S and other audiences, and by extension U.S. government decision-making.”
Summary assessment
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02

Economic and COVID-19 themes

The summary lists encouraging violent demonstrations and looting to heighten the appearance of unrest as one economic-recession theme. It separately lists an ineffective federal COVID-19 response and efforts to increase dissatisfaction with the president by questioning his fitness and undermining support for his actions.

“Encouraging violent demonstrations and looting, to increase the appearance of social unrest;”
Listed influence theme
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“Increasing public dissatisfaction with the President of the United States by questioning his fitness to govern and undermining public support for his actions.”
Listed influence theme
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03

Claimed dissemination capabilities and collection option

The summary says China had capabilities to distribute these themes through social and mainstream media using overt and hidden influencers or media contributors. It also says one option involved collecting information on senior U.S. officials to shape public opinion about them.

“China had developed capabilities to project themes on these topics into social media (Tiktok, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others), as well as mainstream media through a variety of overt and hidden influencers and media contributors.”
Summary assessment
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“One of the options included gathering information on senior U.S. government officials to influence public opinion of those officials.”
Summary assessment
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