Microsoft warns of Chinese cyber meddling as Lok Sabha Elections approach; South Korea and the United States might also be targeted

New Delhi: As India’s Lok Sabha elections inches closer, a recent Microsoft report has warned of potential interference from Chinese cyber and influence operatives, possibly aided by North Korean agents. The report suggests that these actors may target electoral processes in South Korea and the United States as well.

The Microsoft Threat Intelligence analysis shows that Chinese cyber and influence actors are actively involved in espionage and influence operations globally. Chinese influence campaigns have advanced techniques, using AI-generated content to deepen divisions in the United States and increase tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. They employ AI-generated memes and audio content to target both US domestic issues and geopolitical tensions in Asia.

AI-generated news anchors and memes, made by third-party tech firms using ByteDance’s CapCut tool, have been used in various campaigns, including those about Taiwanese officials and Myanmar issues.

Since February 2023, the group Storm-1376 has increased its use of AI-created news anchors and circulated AI-made memes targeting political figures like William Lai, the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate in Taiwan’s presidential race. According to the Microsoft report, they are aiming to remove the DPP from power.

The report states that on Taiwan’s election day, Storm-1376 shared AI-generated audio clips with Terry Gou’s voice, falsely endorsing another presidential candidate. YouTube quickly acted to limit the spread of this misleading content.

The Microsoft analysis suggests that China will create and promote AI-generated content to support its interests in these important elections. “While the impact of such content in swaying audiences remains low, China’s increasing experimentation in augmenting memes, videos, and audio will continue—and may prove effective down the line,” the report said.

India will hold seven phases of voting from April 19 to June 1 to elect the 543 members of its 18th Lok Sabha. The polling dates are April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, with Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh conducting voting in all seven phases. Results will be announced on June 4, 2024.