Salt Typhoon: China’s Digital Storm Threatening America’s Democracy

Salt Typhoon: China’s Silent Cyberstorm Targeting America’s Democracy 

      Imagine scrolling through social media, thinking you’re seeing the latest updates, maybe even a bit of political banter. But lurking behind some of those posts is something far more sinister than simple election chatter. This is about Salt Typhoon—a code name for China’s latest digital assault on U.S. democracy. And unlike a mere storm, Salt Typhoon is a force designed to mess with our perceptions, twist our views, and shake our faith in the American electoral process.

     So, what exactly is Salt Typhoon? U.S. intelligence experts call it a “cyber-espionage and disinformation campaign.” In plain terms, China’s using a blend of cyber tools: hacking into political networks, deploying highly convincing fake videos (deepfakes), and planting legions of fake social media accounts.

     This isn’t just against one party or candidate: it’s bipartisan. Both sides are feeling the impact, with prominent figures like Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris finding themselves targets. Salt Typhoon’s ultimate goal is to disrupt the entire election process, ensuring that no matter who wins, the public’s faith in the outcome is tainted. The strategy is as much about the division as it is about the deception.

     Take one of Salt Typhoon’s most unsettling moves as an example: Just as campaign season heated up, a “leaked” video surfaced online showing Kamala Harris making eyebrow-raising statements on national security. The video looked authentic—her voice, expressions, everything matched. But, as it turned out, this “leak” was a meticulously crafted deepfake.

     By the time intelligence agencies could confirm the video was fake, it had already spread like wildfire across social media, stirring up public debate and planting doubts that couldn’t be easily erased. And that’s exactly what Salt Typhoon wants—to make us second-guess what we see and hear, to the point that trust itself becomes a casualty.

     Salt Typhoon’s strategy goes beyond just hitting high-profile individuals. This digital typhoon reaches into public issues, too, amplifying tensions on subjects that already divide us. For instance, during the pandemic, fake accounts linked to Salt Typhoon orchestrated online protests against “government overreach” and vaccine mandates.

     These accounts spread exaggerated fears about lockdowns and personal freedoms, driving thousands to participate in rallies across multiple states. The results were predictable—escalated fear, mistrust, and communities driven further apart during a time when cohesion was needed the most.

     How does U.S. intelligence handle something as elusive as a digital storm? Our intelligence agencies aren’t new to this game. They’ve been working alongside tech giants to root out and shut down fake accounts and bolster cybersecurity across government and political systems. The FBI has responded with public advisories, telling Americans to watch out for foreign influence campaigns and providing tools to recognize manipulated content.

     And while no arrests have been made specifically tied to Salt Typhoon’s operators, sanctions and toughened defenses are aimed at taking down the infrastructure that supports these attacks—bot networks, rogue servers, and third-party intermediaries.

     But here’s the challenge: Salt Typhoon and similar cyber campaigns are designed to keep their “digital foot soldiers” virtually untraceable. China’s cyber operations rely on tightly controlled networks and a web of intermediaries that obscure the real players behind the scenes. Intelligence agencies have opted for a containment strategy, focusing on dismantling the tools used by Salt Typhoon rather than aiming for arrests that may never come. This work is like battling a shadow—you can’t always catch it, but you can work to keep it from spreading.

     Interestingly, these cyber disinformation campaigns have been a focal point in the spy thriller Mission of Vengeance. In the novel, CIA spymaster Corey Pearson and his elite team find themselves countering a Russian-run disinformation operation with eerie similarities to Salt Typhoon. A former KGB agent, hiding out in the Dominican Republic, operates from his secluded mansion, orchestrating a secret campaign aimed at destabilizing America’s influence in the Caribbean.

     The KGB agent’s sprawling estate serves as the headquarters for his organization—a group of former Russian spies who manipulate public opinion and sow discontent. As Pearson and his team work to expose this network, they uncover just how intertwined digital deception and espionage have become, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

     So next time you’re scrolling, pay close attention: that post, that video, that breaking news story might not be what it seems. Salt Typhoon isn’t just a cyber-storm blowing through; it’s a meticulously engineered assault, looking to draft you into its ranks as an unwitting accomplice. China’s cyber operatives want you to question everything—except them.

     And as much as America’s intelligence agencies are out there fighting this digital war, the truth is, they can’t do it alone. They need you to stay sharp, to see through the fog, to think twice before sharing, reposting, or reacting.

Because if there’s one thing Salt Typhoon depends on, it’s people who don’t stop to question what’s real. So, don’t let yourself get swept up in their storm.  Be critical. Be alert. And the next time you’re online, don’t just believe—verify.

     This isn’t fiction, and the stakes are high. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and the author of the "Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster" spy thriller series. Check out his latest spy thriller, Misson of Vengeance.