Microsoft’s warning: “China uses AI to influence elections in the US, South Korea and India”

In 2024 China will try to influence US elections, in South Korea and India using artificial intelligence. There North Koreainstead, will continue to plunder cryptocurrency funds as it has already done, in the past, through numerous cyber attacks.

These are the main dangers highlighted by a report published by MTACthe Microsoft analysis center cyber threats.

The Redmond company writes that it has collected enough evidence to state that China has already tried to pollute Taiwan’s presidential electionslast January, producing disinformation with tools equipped with artificial intelligence to distance voters from the sovereignist candidate William Laiwho then won the elections.

For the first time, he claims Microsofta state-backed IT group leveraged content created by AI to try to influence a foreign election.

The group in question is called Storm 1376 and is also known as Spamouflage or Dragonbridge. An example of disinformation produced by Storm 1376 is the fake audio posted on YouTube which could have damaged candidate Terry Gou. YouTube removed the content before it went viral.

There is another threat, according to Microsoft, which comes from China.

It’s about the fake social media accountslinked to the Chinese government, who are asking provocative questions about issues that are much discussed in the United States.

“The target – we read in the report – seems to be to better understand the key issues that divide the US electorate. This could serve to gather information and more precisely identify the demographics of key voter groups ahead of the US presidential election.”

In recent months, Microsoft says, the use of generative artificial intelligence has increased – capable of creating content in moments from a text – “in an attempt to influence and fuel division in the United States and other countries on a range of topics, including: the train derailment in Kentucky in November 2023, the Maui forest fires in August 2023, Japanese nuclear wastewater disposal, drug use in the United States, immigration policies and racial tensions in the country.”

But so far, Microsoft writes, there is not enough evidence to say that these efforts have succeeded influence American public opinion.

“It is likely that cyber groups supported by the Chinese and South Korean governments will target people who go to the polls in the United States, South Korea and India” says Microsoft, which already in September 2023 had highlighted how fake social accounts linked to China have tried to influence America’s 2022 midterm elections.

“This activity continues today – writes Microsoft – and these accounts post almost exclusively on divisive issues concerning US domestic politics such as global warming, US border policiesdrug use, immigration and racial tensions”.

The fake Chinese accounts “use original videos, memes and infographics, as well as content recycled from other high-profile political accounts.”

According to Microsoft’s report, North Korea’s cyber activity is also of concern.

“North Korea – the document reads – has continued to prioritize the theft of cryptocurrency funds. This is likely to generate revenue earmarked for North Korea’s weapons program, as well as gather intelligence on the United States, South Korea and Japan.”

The United Nations claims that North Korea hackers have stolen over $3 billion in cryptocurrencies since 2017. In 2023 alone, thefts totaling between $600 million and $1 billion occurred.

“Our report – writes Microsoft – catalogs numerous cases of cryptocurrency thefts, spear-phishing and attacks on software supply chains, as well as efforts to undermine the trilateral alliance between the United States, Japan and South Korea”.