China: Microsoft’s threat intelligence team has warned that China will use artificial intelligence-generated (AI) content to interfere with elections in the US, South Korea and India this year.
The US company also believes that Chinese state-backed cyber groups, along with North Korea, will target high-profile elections in 2024. The warning comes after China made a dry run in the presidential poll in Taiwan.
Microsoft’s report stated that, “As populations in India, South Korea and the United States head to the polls, we are likely to see Chinese cyber and influence actors, and to some extent, North Korean cyber actors, work toward targeting these elections.”
According to Microsoft, China will use social media to create and spread AI-generated content to support their positions during important elections. Although the impact of such content is currently considered minor, Microsoft warns that it holds the potential to become more significant if left unchecked.
“While the impact of such content in swaying audiences remains low, China’s increasing experimentation in augmenting memes, videos and audio will continue – and may prove effective down the line,” the US tech firm added.
In the report, Microsoft cited that China attempted to use an AI-generated disinformation campaign during the Taiwan presidential election in January. This was the first instance where a state-backed entity was seen using artificial intelligence-created content to influence a foreign election.
A group called Storm 1376, backed by Beijing, was active during the Taiwanese election. It posted fake audio on YouTube of a candidate endorsing another. The clip, ‘likely AI-generated,’ was removed by YouTube.
The Storm 1376 used memes and TV news anchors to spread baseless accusations against William Lai, a pro-sovereignty candidate opposed by Beijing. The accusations included embezzlement of state funds and illegitimate children.
Microsoft remarked that, news anchors were generated using the CapCut tool, which is created by ByteDance, a Chinese company that owns TikTok. The tech firm also mentioned that Chinese groups are still trying to influence campaigns in the United States.
They claimed that Beijing-backed actors are using social media accounts to pose divisive questions and gain insights into the issues that divide US voters. The US company also stated in a blog post that this may be an attempt to collect data on important voting demographics before the US Presidential election.
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