What you need to know
- Microsoft has identified a Russian actor using AI to spread misinformation about the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
- The perpetrators also used AI to create fake news articles and even a Netflix documentary to spread fear of terrorism and violence at the event in an attempt to deter people from attending.
- The issue highlights the need for useful tools to help people identify deepfakes and misinformation generated using AI as the election period approaches.
Generative AI is undoubtedly revolutionizing the world, with big companies like Microsoft, OpenAI, and most recently Apple claiming their place in the field. But the technology raises many questions among users, centered around privacy, security, and its ability to spread misinformation and deepfakes.
As the election approaches, that last point may be becoming an even bigger threat, coupled with a lack of tools and methods to identify AI-generated deepfakes and misinformation. Such is the case with Russia-based influencers reportedly using AI technology to spread misinformation about the 2024 Paris Olympics (via The Hill).
A report from Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center said Russian attackers are spreading fears of violence at the Olympics through AI-generated videos, articles and images, and using the technology's capabilities to disparage the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
For example, Russian actor Storm1679 used AI to create a fake documentary for Netflix that made the IOC look bad, with a voice reminiscent of veteran actor Tom Cruise. The documentary combined Netflix's trademark intro with corporate branding and was reported to be quite convincing. It also included reviews and special effects, and Microsoft reported that this was aimed at creating the illusion that a lot of time had been spent on the project, ultimately demonstrating “greater skill than most influence campaigns.”
Additionally, the threat actor used the technique to generate purportedly “trustworthy” fake news from well-known sources such as Euro News and France24. Russian actors used these outlets as a platform to spread malicious lies, claiming that Paris was concerned about possible violence resulting from the upcoming Olympics.
Additionally, Storm1679 created a fake video claiming to be from the CIA and urging people to stay away from the Olympics due to fears of terrorism. In addition to these attempts, the perpetrators also posted misleading fake articles criticizing President Emmanuel Macron.
