Amid growing concerns, Microsoft's latest report flags potential AI-driven interference in upcoming elections, with China at the forefront.
A sign directs voters to a polling location during midterm primary elections in Summerville, South Carolina, on June 14, 2022. Maine, Nevada, and North Dakota also held midterm primary elections on Tuesday. (Photo: Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Chinese Election Interference Beyond US Borders
Microsoft warns that Chinese state cyber groups are gearing up to manipulate elections not only in the US but also in South Korea and India this year. The threat intelligence team also points to North Korea's possible involvement in these disruptive activities.
The Guardian reported that this revelation follows the team's previous warnings, including the espionage activities of a Russian-backed hacker group targeting senior leaders' email accounts.
The proliferation of AI technologies capable of generating realistic content raises significant apprehensions about spreading misinformation online.
Recent accusations by US and UK authorities against China-backed hackers further underscore the seriousness of the threat, with journalists, businesses, and politicians among the targeted entities.
As elections around the globe draw near, with half of the world's population poised to vote in 2024, the potential ramifications of such interference loom large.
With China purportedly seeking to exploit this opportunity, the integrity of democratic processes remains a pressing concern.
Microsoft has revealed that China employed AI-generated content in a disinformation campaign during the Taiwanese presidential elections earlier this year.
The campaign was orchestrated by a group known as Storm 1376, based in Beijing, and also recognized by aliases such as Spamouflague or Dragonbridge.
The group reportedly created counterfeit audio recordings of a candidate and disseminated them. However, the platform promptly removed the content before it could reach a wide audience. Ultimately, the candidate withdrew from the race in November.
Despite this setback, Storm 1376 continued its efforts by producing memes targeting William Lai, a pro-sovereignty candidate who eventually emerged victorious in the election. These memes accused Lai of financial mismanagement, aiming to tarnish his reputation.
Additionally, the group utilized AI-generated personas, including a fabricated TV anchor, to propagate allegations about Lai's personal life.
Microsoft's report indicates that Storm 1376 operated with Beijing's backing, marking the first instance of a state-sponsored entity utilizing AI to influence foreign elections.
Microsoft suggests that the Taiwanese election served as a test for China's future endeavors in this strategy, indicating a potential escalation during significant electoral events.
The company anticipates that China's tactics may involve disseminating AI-generated social media content favoring its interests.
Posing Threat to US Elections
In the United States, Chinese entities have conducted influence operations on various social media platforms, posing divisive queries to the public.
These inquiries touch upon contentious topics such as investments in the US-Mexico border and aid packages for countries like Ukraine and Israel, aiming to provoke strong reactions and sow discord among voters.
Moreover, these endeavors might serve the dual purpose of gathering intelligence on voter demographics ahead of the US presidential elections.
While the immediate impact of such content on audience sentiments remains limited, ongoing experimentation and advancements in this realm could alter this scenario in the future.
Coincidentally, the release of this report follows revelations from a White House-appointed review board. The board highlighted Microsoft's errors, which allegedly facilitated China-backed hackers' access to the email accounts of top US officials.
