According to Google, there is a network named Glassbridge that comprises organizations coordinating their actions under the disguise of independent structures. While no direct evidence of leadership within the network was found, the company identifies four main participants – Shanghai Haixun Technology, Times Newswire, Durinbridge, and Shenzhen Bowen Media – who followed orders from a common client to create and disseminate propaganda materials.
For instance, Haixun enlists freelancers to promote materials via social networks and news platforms, while Shenzhen Bowen publishes content in various languages like English, French, and German. These companies utilize news services like Times Newswire and World Newswire to promote materials through subdomains of legitimate news sites.
The campaign involved the use of materials from the Chinese State Information Agency, press releases, and other content. Materials were often published alongside neutral articles, conspiracy theories, and personal attacks on specific individuals. To conceal the source, private PR companies were engaged, further complicating the tracking of material origins.
Among the network participants, Shanghai Haixun Technology emerged as the most active. Google removed approximately 600 of its domains and several YouTube channels from its news results. The organization has been active for years, with Mandiant’s 2022 report revealing 59 domains and 14 subdomains distributing questionable content.
Since 2022, Google has blocked over 1000 sites from its platforms like Google News and Google Discover. These actions were taken to combat user deception and ensure editorial transparency. Analysts at the company observe that the reliance on news agencies signifies an evolution in information impact methods, as operators transition from social media to more sophisticated strategies.