In its recent threat research, US-based Mandiant reported on the expansion of the DRAGONBRIDGE influence campaign into targeting the rare earths supply chain. The market leader in threat intelligence stated that it has recently “identified and investigated a subset of information operations activity we attribute to the DRAGONBRIDGRE campaign across social media that targeted the Australian rare earths mining company, Lynas Rare Earths Ltd, with content criticising its alleged environmental record and calling for protests of its planned construction of a rare earths processing facility in Texas.”
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In a statement yesterday, Lynas confirmed this stating that it has been briefed by Mandiant in relation to its identification of a social media disinformation campaign against it by accounts associated with the DRAGONBRIDGE campaign.
“Lynas has been the subject of disinformation campaigns in Malaysia for some years, however, this is the first time we have seen evidence of direct links between fake social media accounts spreading disinformation and political agendas. The report shows evidence of direct and mutual engagement between the pro-China DRAGONBRIDGE social media accounts and the Malaysian anti-Lynas activists,” stated Lynas.
Mandiant’s analysis reveals that the campaign is not driven by actual community or environmental concerns but by other agendas, which demonstrates the potential for social media accounts to be manipulated to promote disinformation or to amplify the voices of activists with a self-serving agenda.
“Lynas is proud of our record as an ethical and environmentally responsible rare earths producer and as a lawful and compliant company. In Malaysia, four independent and scientific reviews in Malaysia, including two reviews by the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), have found our operations to be safe, low risk and compliant with regulations. We are proud to have built trusted and direct relationships with our local communities in Malaysia and Western Australia who recognise the high safety and environmental standards we apply in our operations,” stated Lynas.
Lynas further stated that it will always seeks to provide accurate information about the company and the rare earths industry and will continue to report disinformation where it is detected.
Mandiant has reported to customers, since June 2019, on the influence campaign known as DRAGONBRIDGE, comprising a network of thousands of inauthentic accounts across numerous social media platforms, websites, and forums that have promoted various narratives in support of the political interests of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
According to Mandiant, it has since observed multiple shifts in DRAGONBRIDGE tactics, and reported on an expansion of the campaign’s activity in September 2021. In June 2021, Mandiant reportedly observed additional DRAGONBRIDGE activity which began targeting the Canadian rare earths mining company Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp and the American rare earths manufacturing company USA Rare Earth with negative messaging in response to potential or planned rare earths production activities involving those companies.
As part of its community outreach, Mandiant has contacted Lynas, Appia, and USA Rare Earth about this activity, as well as social media platforms where this campaign promoted content. 
