Microsoft Claims Chinese Hackers Utilize AI to Exacerbate US Social Tensions
Hey there friends in the healthcare and cybersecurity corners of the Bay Area, let’s talk about something a little fascinating that’s been catching buzz lately – artificial intelligence being leveraged for political influence. Now, don’t worry I’m not about to get all techy, but I think you’ll find this pretty interesting.
You see, there’s been new research that suggests that certain folks, allegedly connected to Beijing, have turned to AI to stir up some hot-button topics here in the U.S. and Taiwan. I mean, we’ve all seen or heard of stories that sparked some hefty debates during election times – some of them could be the handiwork of AI.
To give you an example, remember when there were audio clips of a popular Taiwanese presidential candidate making the rounds on social media? Well, those clips were AI-generated to tip the scales in favor of the candidate Beijing was rooting for! Of course, YouTube swooped in and nixed that content pronto before many folks could see it, but it does make you think about the power governments can wield using AI, huh?
This marks the first instance of a foreign nation using AI to potentially sway an election. Leading the charge in unravelling this truth were researchers at Microsoft. The work didn’t stop there. The same Chinese group has been pretty busy creating more AI content, like news anchors and clips used for taunting Canadian politicians last year. Wild, right?
It gets interesting how these narratives are distributed. Imagine a collection of 175 websites catering to over 58 languages – that’s the network that they use. Primarily, the content seems to focus on stirring controversy around U.S. dealings and geopolitical events, often casting us in a not-so-great light. Some outrageous claims ranged from a U.S. government weapon igniting the Hawaii wildfires to Japan scheming to dump their nuclear wastewater in the Pacific Ocean…and the one with the train derailment in Kentucky!
Microsoft also stumbled upon social media accounts apparently linked to the Chinese Communist Party. These accounts were masquerading as U.S. voters, trying to create a sense of discord by spreading content regarding issues like American drug use, immigration, and racial tension. However, it appears the effort fell flat, and there wasn’t much of an impact on public opinion.
This experiment with AI-generated content doesn’t seem likely to stop anytime soon. In fact, China is expected to only refine and expand on this strategy, not just here, but also in the upcoming elections in India and South Korea. With AI at its disposal can create memes, videos, and audios tailored to benefit its interest.
And it’s not just China that’s tinkering around with this tech, folks. North Korea has also been dipping toes in the AI waters. While their prime focus is on cryptocurrency firms and conducting software supply chain attacks to steer in some revenue, the application of AI is certainly intriguing.
Microsoft, in partnership with OpenAI, had a run-in with a North Korean actor dubbed “Emerald Sleet” who was using AI-powered tools to carry out their operations more effectively. They had been using AI to identify vulnerabilities, carry out reconnaissance on organizations, deal with technical issues, and even craft the content of deceptive messages.
There’s a lot happening in the AI world, and it’s not all rosy, especially when it gives access to influential platforms to folks with ulterior motives. Microsoft learned this the hard way when they had to deal with the aftermath of a Chinese cyberattack that compromised sensitive email accounts.
It’s a wild world we’re living in, isn’t it? As we continue to navigate it, let’s keep our eyes open and protect ourselves from the nuances of AI.
by Morgan Phisher | HEAL Security