How China Uses Money, Threats, and AI to Control Global YouTube Narratives Under its Disinformation Campaign

Beijing, China - In a sweeping crackdown on digital dissent, China has intensified its efforts to suppress YouTubers critical of its policies, reflecting its broader strategy to control online content and shape global narratives. This digital offensive has led to the targeting of prominent influencers like Winston Sterzel, once celebrated for his cultural explorations of China but now a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).  

Through censorship, misinformation campaigns, and algorithmic manipulation, Beijing is working to silence dissenting voices while amplifying pro-China content worldwide.

From Cultural Ambassador to Government Critic

Winston Sterzel, widely recognized as China's first YouTuber, spent over a decade documenting the country’s culture through travel vlogs, motorcycle journeys, and lifestyle documentaries. His content largely avoided politically sensitive topics, but as China’s grip on foreign social media tightened, his once-celebrated presence turned into a liability. Increasing scrutiny, threats, and government pressure ultimately forced Sterzel to relocate to the U.S., where his collaborator already held citizenship.

Following their departure, Sterzel and his partner shifed their focus to exposing the CCP’s aggressive censorship tactics, digital surveillance, and global influence operations. Their revelations gained traction, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they uncovered China's efforts to erase critical content, pressure foreign sponsors, and spread state-backed disinformation. Their rising popularity underscored the global implications of China’s tightening information control.

China’s Disinformation Playbook

A striking example of China's covert influence operations emerged in a report by Tribune India on February 23, 2025, which detailed an incident where the Chinese government inadvertently offered Sterzel and his collaborator $2,000 to post a video falsely linking COVID-19 to white-tailed deer in the U.S. The move, part of a broader disinformation strategy, aimed to shift blame for the pandemic’s origins away from China. Similar narratives appeared on Western YouTube channels, exposing Beijing’s calculated attempts to manipulate public perception through social media—despite YouTube being banned in China.

The CCP has also been accused of mobilizing foreign influencers to propagate state-approved messages, particularly regarding contentious issues like Xinjiang and Taiwan. By employing AI-driven campaigns such as the “Shadow Play” network, Beijing has managed to flood YouTube with pro-China content, amassing millions of views and reshaping international discourse. This tactic serves as both an offensive and defensive mechanism: bolstering China's global image while neutralizing critical voices.

Beyond China’s direct interventions, YouTube’s algorithmic adjustments appear to have inadvertently aided Beijing’s censorship efforts. Influencers who expose CCP-related human rights abuses and political suppression have reported a decline in video visibility, demonetization, and even outright removal of content. Meanwhile, state-backed or CCP-friendly content continues to gain traction, raising concerns about platform bias and potential external influence on content moderation policies.

The Global Impact of China's Digital Crackdown

China’s digital suppression tactics extend beyond YouTube, affecting international observers, journalists, and analysts who rely on open-source intelligence to track China’s military, economic, and political maneuvers. The systematic erasure of critical content could limit access to accurate information about China’s defense capabilities, internal dissent, and geopolitical strategies, further complicating global discourse on Beijing’s influence.

This intensified crackdown highlights China's commitment to controlling the digital narrative at all costs—not just within its borders but across international platforms. As China refines its strategies, the battle for digital free speech will only intensify, leaving content creators, tech companies, and policymakers grappling with the growing challenge of resisting state-sponsored information control in an increasingly censored world.