A Different Kind of Army: The Militarization of China?s Internet Trolls
Publication: China Brief Volume: 21 Issue: 7
By: Ryan Fedasiuk
April 12, 2021 12:57 PM
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This article illuminates the shifting size and mission set of the forces behind China?s struggle to control online public opinion. It finds that, in addition to 2 million paid internet commentators, the CCP today draws on a network of more than 20 million part-time volunteers to engage in internet trolling, many of whom are university students and members of the Communist Youth League (CYL; ???????, gongchan zhuyi qingnian tuan). It concludes that although internet commentators are primarily concerned with shaping China?s domestic information environment, they are growing in number, and the scope of the Party?s public opinion war (???; yulun zhan) is broadening to include foreigners....