Hey there, did you know that tech influence operations linked to Beijing have started playing with artificial intelligence? They’re using this advanced technology to stir up controversy in countries like the U.S. and Taiwan – quite sneaky, huh? This new trick was recently revealed in some intriguing research.
Let’s take an example. Some AI-generated audio clips featuring a well-known Taiwanese politician started popping up across social media. The goal? Swaying the voters towards Beijing’s favored candidate. Although YouTube nipped it in the bud by quickly removing the content, it opened our eyes to how powerful technology can be twisted for misinformation. This was the first time that Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence team discovered a national actor using AI content to meddle in a foreign election.
This same Chinese group isn’t stopping at the audio either—they’ve pumped out a heap of content with AI-generated news anchors. Last year, they even used AI-created videos to pester Canadian politicians. Pretty wild, right?
The fake content doesn’t just sit there. It’s promoted through a giant network of around 175 sites in over 58 languages, and it often centers around high-profile geopolitical stories. And especially ones that paint the U.S. in a less-than-flattering light.
Some of these claims were downright outrageous. We’re talking serious accusations like an alleged U.S. government weapon causing wildfires in Hawaii or Japan dumping nuclear wastewater in the Pacific Ocean. Not to mention conspiracy theories about a train derailment in Kentucky. The level of creativity in these narratives is truly jaw-dropping!
It doesn’t stop there, though. Microsoft also uncovered multiple Chinese Communist Party-affiliated social media accounts that were pretending to be U.S. voters and stirring up trouble. Think fake accounts posting AI-made videos on hot topics like drug use, immigration, and racial tension across America.
So, you might be thinking, ‘Are these operations effective?’ According to Clint Watts, general manager of Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center, we still have to assess that. However, he also warned that China is likely to continue creating and amplifying AI-generated content that favors its interests, especially during election years.
It’s not just about election manipulation, though. This experimentation with AI-created content will likely continue, and who knows? It might prove more dangerous down the line.
Meanwhile, North Korea isn’t being left behind in the AI race. They’re observed using AI tools to improve their attack strategies, mainly focusing on cryptocurrency companies and conducting supply chain attacks.
Last year, Microsoft got quite a bit of heat due to some significant missteps in handling a Chinese cyberattack, which resulted in the attackers gaining access to senior U.S. leaders’ email accounts. They still haven’t figured out how the Chinese hackers broke into their systems.
What a world we live in, right? In this rapidly evolving tech landscape, staying informed and vigilant is more important than ever. Let’s keep our eyes open and stay safe out there, folks!
by Morgan Phisher | HEAL Security
