Microsoft: China allegedly uses artificial intelligence to influence US voters

2023-09-07 20:37:24, Kosova & Bota CNA

US company Microsoft said on Thursday it has identified a network of fake profiles on Chinese-controlled social networks in an attempt to influence US voters using artificial intelligence.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington said that allegations that China, using AI, has created fake social media accounts are "filled with prejudice and malicious speculation" and that China is working to ensure that Artificial Intelligence is used safely.

In a new research report, Microsoft said the social network accounts were part of an information-gathering operation allegedly carried out by China. The campaign bears similarities to activity that the US Department of Justice has attributed to "an elite group within China's Ministry of Public Security," Microsoft said.

The US company's experts did not say which social networking platforms were used, but pictures accompanying the report appeared to show posts from Facebook and Twitter, now known as X.

The report highlights a social media environment that is vulnerable to abuse as Americans prepare for the 2024 presidential election.

The US government has accused Russia of meddling in the 2016 election with a covert social media campaign and warned of subsequent efforts by China, Russia and Iran to influence voters.

The report provides limited examples of the latest activity and does not explain in detail how Microsoft experts attributed the releases to China.

A Microsoft spokesman told the Reuters news agency that the company's experts used a "multi-layered model to verify the connection" with China, which relies on "technical evidence and contextual evidence."

According to the report, the campaign began using AI around March 2023 to create political content in English and "impersonate American voters," Microsoft said.

AI can create images, text and other media from scratch.

The content of the new releases is much more appealing than the tacky visuals used in previous campaigns by Chinese state-run groups, which relied on digital drawings, photo sets that can be purchased online and other manual graphic designs, experts wrote. 'Microsoft'.

The report cites an example of an AI-generated image, which Microsoft said came from a Chinese profile, showing the Statue of Liberty holding a rifle with the caption: 'Everything is being thrown away. GODDESS OF VIOLENCE'.

The spokesperson for Microsoft said that the identified profiles had tried to appear as Americans by publishing their location as being within the United States and publishing American political slogans./ VOA