Influence operations have become a growing concern as China increases its use of covert social media campaigns to manipulate U.S. political discourse. In 2024, the U.S. government warned that Chinese influence efforts, potentially aided by platforms like TikTok, could interfere with democratic processes. Simultaneously, cybersecurity experts warn that Chinese intrusions into U.S. critical infrastructure networks may enable future disruptions during geopolitical conflicts.

These concerns are amplified by China’s national security laws—such as the

1. 2017 National Intelligence Law and the
2. 2021 Counter Espionage Law—that compel Chinese citizens and companies to cooperate with state intelligence operations. In response, the U.S. has enacted multiple legislative and regulatory measures to mitigate these risks.
3. The Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 prohibits data brokers from selling sensitive personal data to China, complementing executive actions on data security. Earlier initiatives, such as the 
4. Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018 (FASCSA), established procurement safeguards, while the
5.  National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) continues to promote cybersecurity frameworks for public and private sectors.