Chinese AI-Generated Images Used in Disinformation Campaigns Targeting US Elections
China appears to be employing artificial intelligence (AI) to create and spread disinformation campaigns aimed at influencing the upcoming 2024 US presidential election, according to a report published by Microsoft Corp.’s Threat Analysis Center. The report outlines the growing threat of disinformation from East Asia, with China highlighted as the main actor in this realm.
Analysts from Microsoft have identified a worrying new capability of the Chinese Communist Party: the ability to automatically generate lifelike images that can be used for influence operations. By mimicking US voters across the political spectrum, these AI-generated images are intended to incite controversy and deepen divisions on racial, economic, and ideological issues.
Unlike previous campaigns, which often used stock images or basic digital drawings, the use of AI-powered image generators has given these disinformation campaigns a new level of impact. The realistic and compelling visuals are being strategically deployed to fuel division on contentious topics such as gun violence and the Black Lives Matter Movement. Furthermore, Chinese operatives are also using the images to denigrate political figures.
Commenting on their findings, Microsoft emphasized the importance of informing policymakers, security practitioners, and the public about emerging threats posed by new technologies, including AI. The report also sheds light on China’s broader propaganda efforts, which seek to improve the country’s international image. The Chinese government has been investing substantial resources in messaging campaigns that target global audiences across multiple platforms and languages.
This global disinformation campaign has proven remarkably successful. While the images may be created by Chinese government assets, the subsequent dissemination of these images and accompanying text has propelled them into the viral realm. It is estimated that the content has reached a staggering 103 million people in an array of languages around the world.
In a related development, last week, Meta Platforms Inc. disrupted what it deemed as the largest known cross-platform covert influence operation in the world, shutting down a Chinese disinformation campaign. The company revealed that China’s influence operation employed hundreds of people posing as influencers to spread its propaganda.
This latest report from Microsoft underscores the escalating sophistication of disinformation campaigns and their potential to disrupt democratic processes. With the use of AI in generating convincing visuals, the threat posed by disinformation is higher than ever before. It is crucial for governments, technology companies, and the public to remain vigilant and proactive in countering these attempts to manipulate public sentiment ahead of the 2024 US election.
