Fake social media accounts are posing as local environmental activists in US, Canada to thwart mining efforts that would hurt China

A flurry of fake social media accounts have attempted to forestall American and Canadian mining efforts that would undermine China's dominance in the rare earth market. Rare earth materials are used in the production of many electronic devices and national defense necessities like missile guidance systems and aircraft engines. As the largest producer of rare earth materials , China has long kept Western countries at its mercy to sustain national supply chains and to maintain an effective military. For this reason, China has a strong motive to undermine global competitors. According to Mandiant , an American cyber security firm located…