Microsoft warns against possible Chinese manipulation during elections in India and US

Microsoft, the US-based multinational corporation, has raised concerns over possible Chinese influence and disruptions during elections in the United States, South Korea and India using artificial intelligence-generated content. Beijing apparently made a dry run during the presidential election in Taiwan.

A new report released Friday (Apr 5) by Microsoft Threat Intelligence revealed that the tech company has observed notable trends from state-backed actors "that demonstrate not only doubling down on familiar targets but also attempts to use more sophisticated influence techniques to achieve their goals".

The report said that it expects Chinese state-backed cyber groups to target crucial and high-profile elections with a possible involvement of North Korea also.

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The report said, "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."

Chinese influence actors "experimented with new media" and "continued to refine AI-generated or AI-enhanced content" the report said.

"The influence actors behind these campaigns have shown a willingness to both amplify AI-generated media that benefits their strategic narratives, as well as create their own video, memes, and audio content," it added.

The report highlighteda "notable uptick in content featuring Taiwanese political figures ahead of the January 13 presidential and legislative elections".

Besides Taiwan, China also used AI-generated content to spread propaganda related to Japan's disposal of nuclear wastewater, Hawaii's wildfire and Kentucky's train derailment last year in the form of memes and conspiracy theories.

According to Microsoft, the news anchors were created by the CapCut tool, which is developed by the Chinese company ByteDance, the owner of TikTok.

China hasn't reacted to Microsoft's report yet.

Watch:India elections 2024: Populist poll promises vs reality in India

Taiwan election: When pro-China disinformation targeted voters

Taiwan had claimed thatthe presidential election campaign was hit by a wave of disinformation and TikTok videos, which are particularly aimed at candidates China opposes.

Beijing has made it clear that it opposes the frontrunner Lai Ching-te, whose Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rejects China's assertion that Taiwan is its own territory.

(With inputs from agencies)