Beijing did a test run in Taiwan using AI-generated content to influence voters away from a pro-sovereignty candidate

China will attempt to disrupt elections in the US, South Korea and India this year with artificial intelligence-generated content after making a dry run with the presidential poll in Taiwan, Microsoft has warned.

The US tech firm said it expected Chinese state-backed cyber groups to target high-profile elections in 2024, with North Korea also involved, according to a report by the company’s threat intelligence team published on Friday.

“As populations in India, South Korea and the United States head to the polls, we are likely to see Chinese cyber and influence actors, and to some extent North Korean cyber actors, work toward targeting these elections,” the report reads.

Microsoft said that “at a minimum” China will create and distribute through social media AI-generated content that “benefits their positions in these high-profile elections”.

  • norbert@kbin.social
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    7 months ago

    I think it’s safest to assume that the other large superpower investing in basically everything, that has stated its goal of hegemony, is working towards that goal.

    Or we could just say “Nah they probably don’t want worldwide influence and power as the U.S.s wanes.” like naive kids that don’t understand realpolitik.

    Interesting side note: I actually went to a big Chinese-themed lantern festival last night that I’m sure was at least partially underwritten by China.

    • TheDemonBuer@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      China has a stated goal of global hegemony? What kind of hegemony? Cultural, ethnic, political? Is that also the stated goal of the US? Because, if so, I as an American do not support that, especially if hegemony is to be achieved through force.

      • norbert@kbin.social
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        7 months ago

        Ask Taiwan, eastern Russia, and the entire continent of Africa what kind of hegemony.

        I never said the U.S. isn’t a hegemony, just that China has those same goals and to assume altruism is naive at best.

        • TheDemonBuer@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Who said anything about altruism? I don’t think altruism or hegemony are the only two possibilities, as though every country must be either a master or a slave. A country can pursue its own interests, provide for its people, defend its borders and sovereignty without necessarily also pursuing global dominance.

          • norbert@kbin.social
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            7 months ago

            A country can pursue its own interests, provide for its people, defend its borders and sovereignty without necessarily also pursuing global dominance.

            Hypothetically? Sure.

            Let me ask you a question, do you think China does or doesn’t want to be a Superpower?

            Be honest with yourself and there’s your answer to their motivations.