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Microsoft: China to use AI in India, US elections for geopolitical gain

"China’s continued circulation of augmented memes, audio, and video to influence election results may “prove effective down the line,” Microsoft cautioned

An elderly voter showing mark of indelible ink after casting her vote at a polling booth in the Indian state of West Bengal / WikimediaCommons/Election Commission

China will use AI (artificial intelligence)-generated content through social media to influence public opinion to the benefit of its geopolitical interests in countries like India and the US. holding major elections later this year.

Tech giant Microsoft has cautioned in its Microsoft Threat Intelligence insights that China is already using fake social media accounts to sow division and influence the outcome of the US elections in its favor, and has increased the use of AI-generated content to further its goals around the rest of the world.

The Lok Sabha elections in India will take place between Apr. 19 and Jun. 14 across seven phases, for 543 seats. The general elections and the presidential election in the US are scheduled for Nov. 2024.

“With major elections taking place around the world this year, particularly in India, South Korea and the United States, we assess that China will, at a minimum, create and amplify AI-generated content to benefit its interests,” said Clint Watts, general manager, Microsoft Threat Analysis Center. Watts said the impact of these efforts to sway election results remains low but China’s heightened experimentation and continued circulation of enhanced memes, videos, and audio “may prove effective down the line.”

The report says North Korea and China may join forces to influence elections. “China will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in October, and North Korea will continue to push forward key advanced weapons programs,”

It further stated, “Meanwhile, 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.”

Excerpt – China’s continued circulation of augmented memes, audio, and video to influence election results may “prove effective down the line” Microsoft cautioned.

 

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