5 months ago
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Over the past year, cybersecurity analysts have observed a significant escalation in cyber activities by Chinese threat actors targeting not just regional adversaries but extending their reach to global powers, including the United States and India. This intensification reflects a strategic expansion in both the scope and sophistication of China's cyber operations and influence campaigns aimed at interfering in foreign elections and policies.
Microsoft has identified multiple Chinese cyber espionage groups such as Volt Typhoon and Nylon Typhoon engaging in sophisticated attacks aimed at compromising the US defense industrial base and various foreign government entities globally.
The strategic intent behind these operations appears to be intelligence gathering and destabilization of critical infrastructure.
In the lead-up to the US and Indian elections, Chinese influence operators have ramped up their activities. Using advanced generative AI technologies, they've produced and disseminated AI-generated memes and deepfakes targeting political figures and sensitive issues. Notably, campaigns during Taiwan's elections saw AI-generated content being used to misrepresent political figures and sway public opinion—a tactic that analysts believe could be replicated in other democratic elections.
"The influence actors behind these campaigns have shown a willingness to both amplify AI-generated media that benefits their strategic narratives, as well as create their own video, memes, and audio content," Microsoft report said. This manipulation has targeted sensitive issues, stoking divisions within the United States and exacerbating rifts in the Asia-Pacific region.
AI propaganda: The new frontier
As per a report in Aljazeera, As geopolitical tensions continue to shape global narratives, China is using AI in creating compelling multimedia content. The recent "A Fractured America" series by Chinese state media CGTN exemplifies this shift, showcasing AI-generated videos that critique various societal issues in the United States, portraying it as a nation in decline.
The AI-generated series dives deep into themes like economic disparities, military-industrial influences, and societal unrest, all aimed at painting a grim picture of the American landscape. With scenes set against dystopian visuals of stormy, urban backdrops, the series pushes a narrative of a faltering American Dream. Henry Ajder, a UK-based generative AI expert, notes that AI significantly lowers the cost and effort required for such content creation, allowing for the rapid production of varied and impactful propaganda pieces.
Beyond the technical feats, these AI-driven campaigns reflect a strategic use of digital influence to sway public opinion and potentially disrupt societal cohesion, the Aljazeera report said.
The curious case of AI-generated deepfakes
President
Vladimir Putin
's invasion of Ukraine has inverted or changed Russia's relationship with many nations. Russia is importing drones from Iran and missiles from North Korea. But this inversion of relationship is more pronounced in case of Russia-China ties. China has emerged as one of the key buyers of Russian oil since the imposition of Western sanctions. China will be Putin's first port of call since becoming Russian president for the fifth time.
According to a report in the Economist, Chinese nationalists are pleased with changing equations in Sino-Russia relations. Interestingly, AI has added a new power dynamic.
In recent months, a trend has emerged online featuring short videos that cater to nationalistic sentiments by showcasing foreign admiration for China. These videos particularly highlight young Russian women, who are portrayed expressing their fascination with Chinese culture and a keenness to marry Chinese men.
The women, identified with names like
Natasha and Sofia
, are seen speaking fluent Mandarin. They openly criticize Russian men as being "drunk and lazy" and extol the virtues of Chinese society and technological advancements. The women, often depicted as blonde, express eagerness to engage in traditional domestic roles such as cooking, washing clothes, and raising children for a Chinese spouse, the Economist report said.
However, these videos are actually deepfakes, crafted with sophisticated yet increasingly affordable AI tools. These videos are relatively simple to produce by using brief clips of real footage which, through dubbing and video editing software, can be manipulated to fulfill the fantasies of some Chinese bachelors.
One such impacted individual, Olga Loiek, a Ukrainian student in America, expressed her horror upon discovering her likeness speaking Chinese with the Kremlin looming in the background. She found her image had been co-opted by numerous accounts. "I was disgusted and felt like my personal autonomy was violated," she told the Economist.
Garnering hundreds of thousands of views, these videos circulate on social media for various purposes—some promote products, while others aim to elevate China's image.
(With inputs from agencies)
