- A new report from Microsoft shows how Chinese social media accounts are leveraging AI.
- CCP-linked accounts frequently share AI-generated memes, audio, and videos online.
- The account targets East Asian countries, but also aims to influence elections in the United States.
Microsoft has warned in a new report that China will use AI-generated media to influence elections in East Asian countries and the United States.
The report, released Friday by Microsoft Threat Intelligence, highlights several examples of AI-generated memes, videos and audio created by Chinese propaganda activists with the aim of stirring up anger and swaying elections in East Asia.
Chinese government-affiliated accounts are also posting AI-generated media aimed at sowing confusion in the United States, the report said.
The report includes AI-generated images blaming the 2023 Hawaii fires on a U.S.-made “weather weapon,” and an attempt to sow distrust in the government in the wake of the November 2023 train derailment in Kentucky. It points out the intended image.
Many Chinese social media messages ask followers to comment on which presidential candidate they support. Microsoft suggested that “the accounts may have been manipulated to enhance intelligence gathering on key voting demographics in the United States.”
The report said the threat “remains low” for now, but added that China's efforts “could prove effective in the future.”
Microsoft's report comes months after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released its China threat assessment. “China aims to sow doubts about U.S. leadership, undermine democracy, and expand China's influence,” the ODNI report said.
Both the ODNI and Microsoft reports mention “spamflage” (which Microsoft calls “Storm-1376”). This is a social media account associated with the Chinese Communist Party that shares divisive and frequently AI-generated content.
A February ODNI report highlighted China's recent influence efforts in 2016, when Russian troll farms posted election disinformation ahead of the presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. It's likened to Russian tactics.
Reuters reported in March that while President Trump was president, he authorized a CIA program to smear the Chinese government on social media.