A brand new menace intelligence evaluation launched by Microsoft’s Risk Evaluation Middle (MTAC) has warned of potential unprecedented challenges to the safety of elections over the subsequent yr.
In its newest report, Microsoft urged that authoritarian nation states might try to intrude with electoral processes utilizing a mixture of conventional strategies and rising applied sciences, together with AI.
Microsoft stated the evaluation underscores the necessity for governments, know-how firms, companies and civil society to collaborate and take proactive steps to safeguard elections.
The tech large has additionally unveiled a set of ideas to information efforts to guard electoral processes in the USA and different international locations with essential elections in 2024:
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Guaranteeing voters have dependable election data
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Serving to candidates detect and tackle AI-generated distortions
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Supporting campaigns in opposition to cyber threats with accessible instruments
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Equipping election authorities with safe electoral instruments
To deal with these challenges, Microsoft is introducing a number of initiatives. Firstly, they may launch “Content material Credentials as a Service,” a instrument enabling customers to digitally signal and authenticate media utilizing digital watermarking credentials to show the provenance and authenticity of content material. It will assist election candidates preserve management over their content material and pictures.
Secondly, a “Marketing campaign Success Crew” inside Microsoft Philanthropies’ Tech for Social Affect group will help political campaigns in navigating the world of AI and combating cyber-influence campaigns.
Learn extra on related campaigns: China Unleashes AI-Powered Picture Technology For Affect Operations
Microsoft can even create an “Election Communications Hub” to help democratic governments globally in constructing safe and resilient election processes. This hub will supply entry to Microsoft safety and help groups within the lead-up to elections.
Moreover, Microsoft stated it can help legislative modifications to guard campaigns and electoral processes from deepfakes and misleading AI content material. They endorse the Defend Elections from Misleading AI Act in the USA, which restricts using AI to generate deceptive content material in political adverts.
Lastly, Microsoft will empower voters with authoritative election data on Bing in partnership with organizations just like the Nationwide Affiliation of State Election Administrators, EFE and Reporters With out Borders.
