With less than two weeks until the 2024 U.S. presidential election, foreign adversaries are increasing their efforts to disrupt the democratic process, Microsoft warns. Russia, Iran and China are targeting key political campaigns and voters using cyber tactics and disinformation, according to a report from the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center.
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Russia has concentrated its influence operations on the Harris-Walz campaign, according to Microsoft. Russian operatives have created AI-generated deepfake videos aimed at discrediting Vice President Kamala Harris.
One video falsely depicts her insulting former President Donald Trump, while another accuses her of illegal activities in Zambia.
Disinformation targeting Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz has also gained traction. One video has received more than 5 million views on social media.
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Iranian hackers, tracked by Microsoft as “Cotton Sandstorm,” have been probing U.S. election-related websites and media outlets.
Despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, Iranian operatives are preparing for cyber-influence operations targeting U.S. audiences. This is similar to their 2020 operation posing as the right-wing group Proud Boys. This time, Iran is encouraging voters to boycott the election, claiming U.S. support for Israel undermines candidates.
China, meanwhile, is focusing its disinformation efforts on down-ballot Republican candidates who advocate for anti-China policies. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Marco Rubio, along with Rep. Barry Moore, have been targeted with accusations of corruption and amplified antisemitic messaging. Though these efforts have not seen high engagement, they represent China’s sustained attempts to influence U.S. political discourse.
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Microsoft reports that all three countries are using AI to spread disinformation rapidly. As Election Day approaches, these foreign interference operations are expected to increase, undermine voter confidence and cast doubt on the integrity of the results. Early detection and fact-checking are critical to counter these efforts, Microsoft says.
Tags: 2024 Elections, Africa, AI, Artificial Intelligence, China, China, Cyber attack, Cybersecurity, data breach, Data Center, data privacy, Deepfakes, Disinformation, Donald Trump, Enrique Tarrio, Generative AI, Hackers, Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran, JD Vance, Kamala Harris, Microsoft, Misinformation, People’s Republic of China, Presidential Campaign, presidential election, Proud Boys, Russia, Tim Walz, User data, Xi Jinping
[Karah]
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE ALREADY CAST THEIR VOTES THIS ELECTION, AND ACCORDING TO A NEW WARNING FROM A TOP TECH COMPANY, THEIR VIEWS MAY WELL HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY MULTIPLE NEFARIUS EFFORTS BY INTERNATIONAL ADVERSARIES.
FOREIGN EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE THE U-S ELECTION ARE IN FULL SWING. MICROSOFT’S THREAT ANALYSIS CENTER WARNS THAT RUSSIA, IRAN AND CHINA ARE STEPPING UP THEIR INFLUENCE CAMPAIGNS, USING CYBER TACTICS AND DISINFORMATION TO DISRUPT THE ELECTION.
RUSSIA REMAINS FOCUSED ON THE HARRIS-WALZ CAMPAIGN. NEW REPORTS REVEAL THAT RUSSIAN OPERATIVES ARE PRODUCING DEEPFAKE VIDEOS ABOUT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, ONE SHOWING HER MAKING DEROGATORY COMMENTS ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. ANOTHER ACCUSES HER OF ILLEGAL POACHING IN ZAMBIA. THEY’VE ALSO GONE AFTER DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE TIM WALZ, WITH ONE A-I GENERATED VIDEO ALLEGING ASSAULT ON A FORMER STUDENT.
“My name is Matthew Metro… I am a survivor of sexual assault.”
MEANWHILE, IRAN IS ACTIVELY SCOUTING U-S ELECTION-RELATED WEBSITES AND MEDIA OUTLETS, ACCORDING TO MICROSOFT. IRANIAN HACKERS, KNOWN AS COTTON SANDSTORM, ARE PREPARING TO LAUNCH INFLUENCE OPERATIONS IN THE U-S. IN THE PAST, THEY’VE TARGETED THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND POSED AS THE PROUD BOYS TO THREATEN FLORIDA VOTERS IN 2020. THIS TIME, THEY’RE URGING AMERICANS TO BOYCOTT THE ELECTION OVER U-S SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL.
CHINA, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS FOCUSING ON DOWN-BALLOT RACES. THEY’VE TARGETED REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS LIKE SENATORS MARSHA BLACKBURN AND MARCO RUBIO, AMPLIFYING ACCUSATIONS OF CORRUPTION AND PROMOTING OPPOSITION CANDIDATES. WHILE THEIR EFFORTS HAVEN’T GAINED MUCH TRACTION, CHINA’S CONTINUED ATTEMPTS TO SWAY VOTER OPINIONS REMAIN A CONCERN.
MICROSOFT WARNS THE USE OF AI TO CREATE DISINFORMATION HAS BECOME A COMMON TOOL FOR ALL THREE COUNTRIES. AS ELECTION DAY APPROACHES, THESE INFLUENCE CAMPAIGNS WILL LIKELY ESCALATE, POTENTIALLY CASTING DOUBTS ON THE RESULTS.
FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES AND STRAIGHT FACTS… DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this data
Left 18%
Center 74%
Right 8%
Bias Distribution
50 other sources covering this story
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Leaning Left
7
Center
28
Leaning Right
3
Last Updated
6 hours ago
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