Russia, Iran, and China Expected to Use AI to Influence 2024 US Election, Report Warns
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4 Sources
[1]
Russia, Iran, China expected to use AI to try to influence US election, report says
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. sees a growing threat of Russia, Iran and China attempting to influence the Nov. 5 elections, including by using artificial intelligence to disseminate fake or divisive information, according to an annual U.S. threat assessment released on Wednesday. Russian "influence actors" have amplified stories about migrants entering the U.S. in an attempt to stoke discord, according to the Department of Homeland Security report, and have used generative AI to create fake websites that appeared to be authentic U.S.-based media outlets. Iran has become "increasingly aggressive in its foreign influence efforts," the report said. In one example, Iranian actors posed as activists online to encourage protests over the conflict in Gaza, DHS said. The U.S. is gearing up for a close presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, and Republican former President Donald Trump that could further inflame partisan tensions and offer opportunities for foreign adversaries to try to disrupt the democratic process. The DHS assessment anticipates Russia, Iran and China "will use a blend of subversive, undeclared, criminal, and coercive tactics to seek new opportunities to undermine confidence in U.S. democratic institutions and domestic social cohesion." Domestic violent extremists pose another serious threat, according to the report. Trump already has been the target of two alleged assassination attempts. The report said it expects domestic extremists to attempt violent actions "with the intent of instilling fear among voters, candidates, and election workers, as well as disrupting election processes." Among those actors, lone offenders or small cells motivated by grievances related to race, religion, gender or anti-government views pose the biggest threat, the report said. (Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
[2]
Russia, Iran, China Expected to Use AI to Try to Influence US Election, Report Says
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. sees a growing threat of Russia, Iran and China attempting to influence the Nov. 5 elections, including by using artificial intelligence to disseminate fake or divisive information, according to an annual U.S. threat assessment released on Wednesday. Russian "influence actors" have amplified stories about migrants entering the U.S. in an attempt to stoke discord, according to the Department of Homeland Security report, and have used generative AI to create fake websites that appeared to be authentic U.S.-based media outlets. Iran has become "increasingly aggressive in its foreign influence efforts," the report said. In one example, Iranian actors posed as activists online to encourage protests over the conflict in Gaza, DHS said. The U.S. is gearing up for a close presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, and Republican former President Donald Trump that could further inflame partisan tensions and offer opportunities for foreign adversaries to try to disrupt the democratic process. The DHS assessment anticipates Russia, Iran and China "will use a blend of subversive, undeclared, criminal, and coercive tactics to seek new opportunities to undermine confidence in U.S. democratic institutions and domestic social cohesion." Domestic violent extremists pose another serious threat, according to the report. Trump already has been the target of two alleged assassination attempts. The report said it expects domestic extremists to attempt violent actions "with the intent of instilling fear among voters, candidates, and election workers, as well as disrupting election processes." Among those actors, lone offenders or small cells motivated by grievances related to race, religion, gender or anti-government views pose the biggest threat, the report said. (Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
[3]
Russia, Iran, China expected to use AI to try to influence US election, report says
The U.S. sees a growing threat of Russia, Iran and China attempting to influence the Nov. 5 elections, including by using artificial intelligence to disseminate fake or divisive information, according to an annual U.S. threat assessment released on Wednesday. Russian "influence actors" have amplified stories about migrants entering the U.S. in an attempt to stoke discord, according to the Department of Homeland Security report, and have used generative AI to create fake websites that appeared to be authentic U.S.-based media outlets. Iran has become "increasingly aggressive in its foreign influence efforts," the report said. In one example, Iranian actors posed as activists online to encourage protests over the conflict in Gaza, DHS said. The U.S. is gearing up for a close presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, and Republican former President Donald Trump that could further inflame partisan tensions and offer opportunities for foreign adversaries to try to disrupt the democratic process. The DHS assessment anticipates Russia, Iran and China "will use a blend of subversive, undeclared, criminal, and coercive tactics to seek new opportunities to undermine confidence in U.S. democratic institutions and domestic social cohesion." Domestic violent extremists pose another serious threat, according to the report. Trump already has been the target of two alleged assassination attempts. The report said it expects domestic extremists to attempt violent actions "with the intent of instilling fear among voters, candidates, and election workers, as well as disrupting election processes." Among those actors, lone offenders or small cells motivated by grievances related to race, religion, gender or anti-government views pose the biggest threat, the report said.
[4]
Russia, Iran, China expected to use AI to try to influence US election, report says
WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. sees a growing threat of Russia, Iran and China attempting to influence the Nov. 5 elections, including by using artificial intelligence to disseminate fake or divisive information, according to an annual U.S. threat assessment released on Wednesday. Russian "influence actors" have amplified stories about migrants entering the U.S. in an attempt to stoke discord, according to the Department of Homeland Security report, and have used generative AI to create fake websites that appeared to be authentic U.S.-based media outlets. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Iran has become "increasingly aggressive in its foreign influence efforts," the report said. In one example, Iranian actors posed as activists online to encourage protests over the conflict in Gaza, DHS said. The U.S. is gearing up for a close presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, and Republican former President Donald Trump that could further inflame partisan tensions and offer opportunities for foreign adversaries to try to disrupt the democratic process. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The DHS assessment anticipates Russia, Iran and China "will use a blend of subversive, undeclared, criminal, and coercive tactics to seek new opportunities to undermine confidence in U.S. democratic institutions and domestic social cohesion." Domestic violent extremists pose another serious threat, according to the report. Trump already has been the target of two alleged assassination attempts. The report said it expects domestic extremists to attempt violent actions "with the intent of instilling fear among voters, candidates, and election workers, as well as disrupting election processes." Among those actors, lone offenders or small cells motivated by grievances related to race, religion, gender or anti-government views pose the biggest threat, the report said. Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Ted Hesson Thomson Reuters Ted Hesson is an immigration reporter for Reuters, based in Washington, D.C. His work focuses on the policy and politics of immigration, asylum and border security. Prior to joining Reuters in 2019, Ted worked for the news outlet POLITICO, where he also covered immigration. His articles have appeared in POLITICO Magazine, The Atlantic and VICE News, among other publications. Ted holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and bachelor's degree from Boston College.
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A new intelligence report suggests that Russia, Iran, and China are likely to employ artificial intelligence in attempts to sway the 2024 US presidential election. The report highlights concerns about the potential misuse of AI technologies in spreading disinformation and manipulating public opinion.
Intelligence Report Raises Alarm on AI-Driven Election Interference
A recently released intelligence report has sounded the alarm on the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) by Russia, Iran, and China to influence the upcoming 2024 US presidential election. The report, made public by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, underscores the growing concerns about the misuse of advanced technologies in undermining democratic processes
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.Anticipated Tactics and Concerns
The intelligence community anticipates that these nations will likely employ AI-generated content to amplify divisive narratives and spread disinformation. This could include the creation of deepfake videos, manipulated audio recordings, and fabricated text content designed to mislead voters and shape public opinion
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.Historical Context and Escalation
While foreign interference in US elections is not a new phenomenon, the integration of AI technologies represents a significant escalation in both scale and sophistication. The report suggests that these adversarial nations may leverage AI to enhance their existing influence campaigns, making them more pervasive and harder to detect
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.Specific Concerns by Country
The report outlines specific concerns for each nation:
- Russia: Expected to continue its efforts to undermine public confidence in US democratic institutions and exacerbate societal divisions.
- Iran: Likely to focus on spreading anti-US messaging and attempting to influence policy decisions that align with Iranian interests.
- China: Anticipated to employ more subtle tactics, potentially using AI to gather intelligence and shape narratives favorable to Chinese interests
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Challenges in Mitigation
The intelligence community faces significant challenges in countering these AI-driven threats. The rapid advancement of AI technologies makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine and fabricated content. Additionally, the global nature of these influence campaigns complicates efforts to track and neutralize them effectively.
Call for Vigilance and Preparedness
In light of these threats, the report emphasizes the need for increased vigilance from both government agencies and the public. It calls for enhanced cybersecurity measures, improved media literacy programs, and greater cooperation between tech companies and intelligence agencies to detect and counter AI-generated disinformation campaigns.
As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, the potential for AI-driven foreign interference looms large, presenting a complex and evolving challenge to the integrity of the democratic process. The intelligence community's warning serves as a crucial reminder of the need for robust defenses against these sophisticated threats.
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