China-linked bots targeting Republicans including Marco Rubio in run-up to election, Microsoft says

Chinese embassy denies connection to alleged coordinated interference on social media by troll network known as Taizi Flood

An army of Chinese-controlled social media bots is attempting to influence voters in Alabama, Texas and Tennessee, while denigrating US Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, according to new research published on Wednesday by Microsoft.

The operation represents a coordinated interference effort against down-ballot races, experts say, in which the fake accounts are denigrating representative Barry Moore of Alabama, representative Michael McCaul of Texas, Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn and Rubio, all Republicans.