'China Will Deploy AI To Disrupt Lok Sabha Elections 2024', Warns Microsoft

As per Microsoft's warning, China will use AI-generated content to sway people's opinions in their interests during elections.

Microsoft has cautioned that China is all set to disrupt the upcoming elections in India, the US and South Korea with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) generated content. The warning comes in light of China conducting a trial run of employing AI to influence the outcome of Taiwan's Presidential Elections. Earlier last month, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and discussed the use of AI for women-led development, social causes and innovation in health and agriculture. 

As per Microsoft's threat intelligence team's warning, several Chinese state-backed cyber groups along with North Korea are likely to target several elections scheduled for 2024. Microsoft has said that China is expected to deploy AI-generated content via social media platforms to sway the opinion of the people in favour of their interests during the elections.

In its statement, Microsoft said, "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."

What Threat Does AI Pose In Elections

In this pivotal election year, the threat of political advertisements utilising AI technology to create deceptive and false content, such as "deepfakes" or fabricating non-existent events, looms large. These tactics are designed to deceive the public regarding candidates' statements, their stances on various issues, and even the authenticity of certain occurrences. If left unchecked, these manipulative efforts could erode voters' ability to make informed decisions.

While the immediate impact of AI-generated content may seem limited, Microsoft has cautioned that China's growing experimentation with this technology could become more potent over time. The tech giant highlighted China's previous use of AI-generated disinformation to influence Taiwan's election, marking the first instance of a state-backed entity employing such tactics in a foreign election.

During the Taiwanese election, a group backed by Beijing, known as Storm 1376 or Spamouflage, was particularly active, as per Microsoft. This group circulated AI-generated content, including fake audio endorsements and memes, with the intent of discrediting certain candidates and shaping voter perceptions. Notably, Iran has also utilised AI-generated TV news anchors as part of its tactics.

Microsoft said, "Storm-1376 has promoted a series of AI-generated memes of Taiwan's then-Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate William Lai, and other Taiwanese officials as well as Chinese dissidents around the world. These have included an increasing use of AI-generated TV news anchors that Storm-1376 has deployed since at least February 2023."

How AI Was Used In US Affairs

Microsoft has highlighted ongoing influence campaigns by Chinese groups in the United States, utilising social media platforms to sow discord and gather information about critical voting demographics.

The company said, "There has been an increased use of Chinese AI-generated content in recent months, attempting to influence and sow division in the US and elsewhere on a range of topics including the train derailment in Kentucky in November 2023, the Maui wildfires in August 2023, the disposal of Japanese nuclear wastewater, drug use in the US as well as immigration policies and racial tensions in the country. There is little evidence these efforts have been successful in swaying opinion."

The integration of AI technology into US election campaigns is not a recent development. In the run-up to the 2024 New Hampshire Democratic primaries, an AI-generated phone call impersonated President Joe Biden's voice, advising voters not to participate in the polls.

This call misleadingly suggested that voters should abstain from voting in the general election in November instead. Upon hearing such a message, ordinary voters could have been easily misled into thinking that President Biden himself endorsed this directive, potentially leading to voter disenfranchisement.

Although there is no clear evidence of Chinese involvement in the New Hampshire incident, it represents one of many instances where AI has posed a significant threat to democratic principles.

Road Ahead For India

India's upcoming general elections are slated to commence on April 19, with the final results anticipated to be announced on June 4. The electoral process is divided into seven phases, with the first phase beginning on April 19, followed by subsequent phases on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and concluding on June 1.

The term of the current 17th Lok Sabha Assembly is scheduled to end on June 16.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued guidelines and protocols to swiftly detect and address false information and misinformation during the electoral process.