The Kremlin is potentially planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate the upcoming presidential elections in November, according to experts. The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced indictments as part of an ongoing investigation into Russian government plots to influence American voters through disinformation campaigns. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted a crackdown on state-run media and online platforms as part of a campaign called “Doppleganger,” focusing on employees of Russian state-controlled media outlet RT. Additionally, more than two dozen internet domains related to the operation were seized, and an Election Threats Task Force was established, including FBI Director Christopher Wray and other top officials from the Justice Department.
The indictments revealed the alleged use of AI tools to create social media profiles posing as non-Russian citizens and to create websites that appeared to be legitimate news outlets. The methods used by the campaign included influencers, paid social media advertisements created using AI tools, and social media profiles posing as U.S. citizens to drive traffic to the fake media domains. The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated 10 individuals and two entities under the Office of Foreign Assets Control, allowing for the imposition of visa restrictions and a Rewards for Justice reward of up to $10 million related to these operations. Russian state-sponsored actors were reported to have used generative AI deep fakes and disinformation to undermine confidence in the U.S. election process and institutions.
According to the Treasury, the Russian nonprofit ANO Dialog utilized deep fake content to develop disinformation campaigns, including fake online posts on popular social media accounts composed of counterfeit documents to elicit emotional responses from audiences. ANO Dialog identified potential targets for deep fake projects and used the “War on Fakes” website to disseminate fake information, targeting voting locations in the U.S. 2024 election. Investigative journalist Christo Grozev revealed that complaints over Russia’s global propaganda efforts led to the decision to use AI and new methods to make disinformation indistinguishable from genuine information. Russia plans to infiltrate platforms used by the target population with hidden advertising content disguised as news from favorite news sites.
Grozev warned that Russia aims to disguise advertising content as news on a person-to-person level, claiming they have developed the technology to accomplish this. The Kremlin plans to use infiltration tactics on platforms already used by the target population, rather than using Russia-related or separate platforms. This strategy is viewed as concerning because it could allow for the spread of manipulative content that could be misconstrued as news. The use of AI in these influence schemes poses a significant threat to the democratic process and the integrity of elections. The U.S. government is taking action to counter these tactics and protect against foreign interference in the electoral process.
