Software giant Microsoft has issued a warning that China is likely to use artificial intelligence (AI) to disrupt elections in the United States, South Korea, and India. According to Microsoft Threat Intelligence insights, China is expected to create and amplify AI-generated content to benefit its own interests during major elections this year.
The upcoming Lok Sabha elections in India, scheduled between April 19 and June 4, the South Korean elections on April 10, and the US presidential election in November are all at risk of being targeted by Chinese state-backed cyber groups. Microsoft predicts that Chinese cyber and influence actors, along with North Korean cyber actors, will work towards influencing these elections.
The report also highlights China’s previous attempts at using AI-generated disinformation campaigns during the Taiwan presidential election in January. A Beijing-backed group called Storm 1376, also known as Spamouflage or Dragonbridge, was highly active during the Taiwanese election. Additionally, there was an increased use of AI-generated TV news anchors, a tactic reportedly used by Iran as well.
Microsoft emphasized that while the impact of such content on swaying audiences may currently be low, China’s experimentation with augmenting memes, videos, and audio could prove to be more effective in the future. The software giant urged vigilance and caution as countries prepare for their upcoming elections, as the threat of AI-driven election interference continues to grow.