China’s AI-Driven Disinformation Efforts: A Closer Look
Recent headlines have raised concerns about China’s alleged use of artificial intelligence (AI) to disrupt elections and spread disinformation across the United States, South Korea, India, and other parts of Asia. These claims are based on a report published by Microsoft‘s Digital Threat Analysis Center.
China’s Disinformation Campaigns: A Decade Behind Russia
Despite the alarming headlines, experts suggest that China’s disinformation efforts are not as sophisticated as they may seem. Clint Watts, the general manager of Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center, compares China’s current disinformation campaigns to Russia’s efforts in 2014, stating:
“I would describe China’s disinformation campaigns as Russia 2014. As in, they’re 10 years behind. They’re trying lots of different things but their sophistication is still very weak.”
The Shift in China’s Disinformation Strategy
Over the past two years, China’s disinformation campaign has undergone a significant shift. Instead of focusing primarily on promoting pro-China content, the campaign now aims to sow discord and confusion by amplifying extreme views on both ends of the political spectrum. This change in strategy has raised concerns about the potential impact of AI-generated text on the spread of disinformation.
The Threat of AI-Generated Disinformation
As AI technology advances, the ability to generate convincing text becomes more accessible. This development has led some experts to worry about the future of disinformation campaigns. Watts expresses his concern, stating:
“If the Chinese can figure out how to generate text with AI, I think we’re in a lot of trouble.”
Monitoring Disinformation Campaigns: The Known and the Unknown
Graphika, a company that specializes in analyzing social media networks, has been tracking accounts associated with China’s Spamouflage campaign. These accounts have attempted to impersonate US voters since before the 2022 midterms, but have not yet achieved significant success.
While reporting on these efforts is crucial, some experts worry that focusing on high-profile campaigns could overshadow smaller, less detectable ones. Ben Stubbs, a researcher at Graphika, expresses his concerns:
“We are going to see increasing amounts of public discussion and reporting on campaigns like Spamouflage and [others], precisely because we already know about them. Both those campaigns are examples of activity that is incredibly high scale, but also very easy to detect. [But] I am more concerned and more worried about the things we don’t know.”
As the world continues to grapple with the challenges posed by disinformation campaigns, it is essential to remain vigilant and proactive in identifying and countering these threats, both known and unknown.
1 Comment
Seems like China’s playbook might need a rewrite, doesn’t it?