Chinese groups are reportedly using social media and artificial intelligence-generated images to stir controversy in the US during an election year and gain insight into how Americans view divisive issues, according to findings by Microsoft Corp. Social media accounts linked to China have been pushing conspiratorial content, such as blaming the US government for summer 2023 wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui. These posts included AI-generated images of burning coastal roads.
The fabricated images suggest that Chinese government-affiliated groups are adopting new methods as the country continues its campaign of disinformation and cyberattacks. However, it’s unclear whether artificial intelligence has significantly enhanced the reach or power of these efforts. Since last fall, there’s been a “small yet steady increase” in social media accounts linked to China pushing inflammatory talking points.
On election day in Taiwan, a Chinese-associated propaganda group likely used an AI-generated audio recording in which Terry Gou, owner of Foxconn Technology Group and a former presidential candidate, appeared to endorse another candidate. The Chinese group behind the Maui fires posts also pushed out messages to cast doubt on the safety of Japan’s disposal of radioactive wastewater, making specific efforts to reach people in South Korea with a campaign that bears the hallmarks of AI generation.
Microsoft assesses with moderate confidence that the accounts posting this material are run by the Chinese government. A company spokesperson said it has concluded that the Chinese government commands some of the groups identified in the report, while others are located in China and use targeting or techniques that align with a state group.
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